"In spring 2009, NOAA researchers tested the effectiveness of using an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to collect sightings data for ice associated seals in a sub-Arctic environment. This document is a summary of those tests. The UAS platform used was the ScanEagle by Boeing which is specifically designed to be launched from and retrieved by a ship at sea. Preliminary test flights were conducted from the NOAA ship Oscar Dyson in October 2008 and two additional test flights were conducted on 4 May 2009, using the NOAA ship McArthur II. Both sets of tests used restricted airspace R-7601 at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (NAS) at Admiralty Inlet in the Puget Sound. Ten additional survey flights were conducted from the McArthur II, from May 21 to June 8, 2009 as she supported ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) and spotted seal (Phoca largha) telemetry research at the Bering Sea ice edge. Most UAS platforms used in these surveys possessed a downward-looking high-resolution digital camera mounted in the belly-port of the aircraft was programmed to take geo-referenced images every 4 seconds. These images would later be examined for the presence of seals. Though researchers requested the ability to fly 50 Nmi away from the ship, the Certificate of Authorization (COA) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) only authorized flights within 5 Nmi and only in specific regions of the Bering Sea"--Cruise Summary.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Bering Sea