Deseret UAS October Newsletter

ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY IN UTAH

Utah Aeronautics Division Director Jared Esselman presenting to the Transportation Interim Committee of the Utah State Legislature on September 21, 2022.

On September 21, Utah Aeronautics Division Director Jared Esselman presented to the Utah State Legislature's Transportation Interim Committee regarding the AAM working group's findings. Composed of state and local policymakers, private-sector industry experts and representatives from non-profit organizations, the Utah Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Working Group has met regularly over the past several months to study the development and implementation of a future AAM system in Utah.

Director Esselman explained that one AAM company, Zipline, has already delivered medicine via drone to two patients in Salt Lake County through their partnership with Intermountain Healthcare. In addition, Walmart subsidiary, DroneUp, is currently applying for operating permits in several cities across Utah’s Wasatch Front to start drone package delivery as early as next year.

Esselman outlined existing AAM assets in Utah, including the state’s world-class fiber optic system, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)’s extensive statewide Road Weather Information System (RWIS), and a robust inventory of parking lots. He also highlighted several in-depth AAM research studies conducted by UDOT that have garnered national attention from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

WATCH THE PRESENTATION

AVIATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLE

From left to right: Robbie Paul, SUU; Richard Cannon, SUU; Crystal Maguire, ATEC; Lorri Hansen, Utah Helicopter; Courtland Hansen, SUU (behind Lorri); Nicholas Johnson, Life Flight; Rep. Burgess Owens; Jared Esselman MPP, AAE, Utah Division of Aeronautics (in front of Rep. Owens); Courtney Johnson, Cedar Valley High School (next to Rep. Owens); Mandy Nelson, Bristow (behind Courtney); Cade Clark, HAI; Rachelle Ackley, Utah System of Higher Education (in front of Cade); Scott Romney, Utah Division of Aeronautics (next to Rachelle); Michael Mower, SUU (behind Scott); Christopher Cox, SUU; and Sandi Hemmert, Granite School District. Credit: Helicopter Association International

On August 31, 2022, the Helicopter Association International (HAI) participated in an Aviation Workforce Development Roundtable organized by Utah Representative Burgess Owens. The event was held at the Utah Aeronautics Division offices as part of an ongoing program to address the shortage of helicopter pilots and maintenance professionals.

Roundtable participants, including helicopter operators, aviation educators and government stakeholders, worked to identify federal resources available to support aviation workforce development efforts. Roundtable members also discussed ways to build on the success of the Utah Rotor Pathway Program (URPP).

SILICON SLOPES SUMMIT

Last week, leaders in Utah's technology industry converged at the Silicon Slopes Summit 2022 in Salt Lake City. The Summit is one of the largest and most prominent annual business and tech events in the world, bringing together over 20,000 attendees. Now in its sixth year, it featured keynote speakers, in-depth breakout sessions, entertainment, and one-of-a-kind networking opportunities. Deseret UAS was there to share AAM best practices and technologies with Utah's tech entrepreneurs.

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TEAM UTAH IN UAE

Governor Spencer Cox and a visiting delegation of high-ranking officials from Utah met with dignitaries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month to find common ground between the Utah and UAE economies and identify significant opportunities for collaboration.

UTAH AERONAUTICS CONFERENCE

The Utah Aeronautics Division is pleased to announce the 2023 Utah Aeronautics Conference! The 2022 conference saw over 500 registered attendees! As the only event of its kind in Utah, this premier conference brings together aviation professionals, state and local officials, mechanics, engineers, planners, and industry leaders to network, share best practices, and foster collaboration. The 2023 conference will feature more networking opportunities and interactive learning experiences. Mark your calendars now to attend! Registration details will be forthcoming.

UPCOMING EVENTS

UAS Summit and Expo 2022
Grand Forks, North Dakota
October 4 - 5, 2022
Register N ow

ASPIRE ERC Annual Meeting 2022
ASPIRE Center in Logan, Utah
October 17 - 19, 2022
Register Now

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023
Denver, Colorado
May 8 - 11, 2023
Register Now

AIAA Aviation Forum & Exposition 2023
San Diego, California
June 12 - 16
Registration Opens Spring 2023

Utah Aeronautics Conference 2023
Layton, Utah
June 20 - 22, 2022
Registration Opens November 2022

ABOUT DESERET UAS

Deseret UAS is a non-profit corporation created jointly by Tooele and Box Elder Counties, in close partnership with Ogden City. As the premier organization in Utah dedicated to Advanced Air Mobililty (AAM), Deseret UAS provides unparalleled access to several large flight test ranges with miles of wide-open land and air. We offer active commercial UAS/AAM flight test ranges, foster applied research, and provide a centralized source of information on AAM in Utah.