Officials at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport are using future technology to make operations at the airport safer.
Already a leader in the use of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, the airport is one of the first in the nation to use drones for various tasks on and around the airport.
GTR Executive Director Mike Hainsey said the airport purchased the drone about four months ago, and future plans have already been made to purchase a more advanced model.
“Our first thought was to use the drone to chase birds off the runway and away from the airfield,” Hainsey said. “It was very effective in that role, but we soon found there were many more uses for it.”
In addition to wildlife control, the airport started testing the drone in various roles, including perimeter patrols, inspection of the fence and gates and facility inspections including roofs and other hard to reach areas.
“It’s been successful far beyond what we imagined, from chasing birds off the runway to inspecting the roofs of our buildings that otherwise wouldn’t be visible,” Hainsey said.
Hainsey said the drone has also been used to inspect drainage lines and fences, and recently was also able to help airport staff track and safely remove a deer that was trapped inside the airport fence.
Deputy Director Matt Dowell operates the airport’s drone. Already a flight instructor, he obtained his UAS operator’s license and immediately started working with the FAA and local air traffic controllers to obtain the required approvals to fly on and around the airport. Once that was obtained, he flew several test flights to ensure the drone was useful in all of the planned areas.
“It worked great,” Dowell said. “We’ve been able to prove the use of drones at airports is an effective way to improve safety. It’s just another tool in our kit to ensure a safe operation at GTR.”
The airport will continue to find new and better ways to use the drones by working with the FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS at Mississippi State University as well as several national organizations promoting drone usage.