Drone testing may be underway in the region, an official with Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) confirmed recently.

MAAP recently received an award to conduct Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) testing in the region from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that would include the regions of Cumberland, Prince Edward and Buckingham counties, MAAP Director Mark Blanks said.

“Timing of testing and specific locations are still (To Be Decided) TBD at this time as we work through the program’s details with the FAA,” Blanks said.

UAS includes equipment such as drones.

Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership received a Certificate of Authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in May 2016 for research flights in an area of nearly 5,000 square miles in Central Virginia and budgeted almost $1 million for equipment for the new test range. Prince Edward is located in the heart of this range, a December 2017 Herald report cited.

Loudoun, Montgomery and Wise are also among Central Virginia counties, and counties around other parts of Virginia that will participate in the program, led by the Department of Transportation’s UAS Integration Pilot Program. The Virginia program will focus on UAS testing that could potentially benefit participants in Virginia and beyond, including package delivery, emergency management and infrastructure inspection.

The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors and the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a memorandum of agreement with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority (IEIA), Lead Applicant and Lead Participant for the program during its December 2017 meeting. Prince Edward County voted to approve an MOA to be involved with the program, which would include emergency management, a December 2017 Herald report cited.

“Becoming a team member will expose the county to this new industry,” Prince Edward County Administrator Wade Bartlett cited in the December report.

Cumberland County Attorney and County Administrator Vivian Seay Giles said the county had an opportunity to learn from a developing industry.

“This industry is only going to continue to grow,” Giles said, noting it could benefit the county to be on the forefront of the research.

“It has been something that has been in the works for a long time,” Buckingham County Administrator Rebecca Carter said during the December meeting.

The partnership would not obligate the counties to provide financial assistance.