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Virginia Unmanned Systems Center at VIPC

​The Virginia Unmanned Systems Center at VIPC is the nexus for Virginia’s activity in UxS – Land, Air, Sea, and Space. The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation is the primary source for information, grants, partnerships, and seed funding for UxS in the Commonwealth.

Virginia UAV Activity Study

Hampton Roads VA Airspace Analysis

AUVSI Virginia Pavilion 2023

Virginia's Advanced Air Mobility Future

Virginia Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

Winchester Apple Blossom Fly-In

Virginia Ranked #1 for UxS Business

​Operation
Last-Mile

Resources

Whether you’re a novice drone pilot or have many years of aviation experience, rules and safety tips exist to help you fly safely in the National Airspace System. Think of these tips as a pre-flight checklist to help you fly safely. For comprehensive information regarding operating your drone, go to the FAA website at https:// www.faa.gov/uas/

Got a Drone?

Drone Safety Tips
  • Register your drone
  • Fly your drone at or below 400 feet
  • Keep your drone within your line of sight
  • Be aware of FAA Airspace Restrictions
  • Respect privacy
  • Never fly near other aircraft, especially near airports
  • Never fly over groups of people, public events, or stadiums full of people
  • Never fly near emergencies such as fires or hurricane recovery efforts
  • Never fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Got a Drone?

Virginia Airports
Operating Your Drone

The FAA rules you need to follow while flying your drone will depend on what your mission is.

Operate a Drone, Start a Drone Program
Understanding Your Authority: Handling Sightings and Reports
Public Safety and Law Enforcement Toolkit
FAA Contacts for Law Enforcement

Advisory Board Members

Andrew (Andy) Alden

Program Leader, VA Tech
Transportation Institute (VTTI)

Joe Allman

CEO, UAV
Pro

David Barton

Formerly Director Aerial Services
Chef Pilot, Draper Aden

David Bowles

Executive Director, VA Institute for
Spaceflight & Authority (VISA)

Nevin Carr

Vice President, Navy Strategic
Account Executive, Leidos

Chris Carter

Deputy Director, Virginia Space
Grant Consortium (VSGC)

Nick Devereux

Policy and Government Affairs,
Wing

Lisa Ellman

Executive Director, Commercial
Drone Alliance (CDA)

Mike Fry

Director of Undersea Navy - C5
Systems Division, L3Harris
Technologies

Tombo Jones

Director Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic
Aviation Partnership (MAAP)

Samantha Magill

Business Development Manager,
Aeronautics Research Directorate
NASA Langley Research Center

Nate Robie

Manager, Unmanned Systems,
Dominion Energy

Chris Sadler

Director, Public Safety Innovation
Center

Scott Strimple

Chief Executive Officer, Virginia
UAS

Tom Walker

CEO,
DroneUp

Charles Werner

Director, Drone Responders and
Chair, National Council on Public
Safety UAS (NCPSU)

Shelby Zaricor

Director, Virginia Economic
Development Partnership

Amber Wilson

Aviation Technology Manager,
Virginia Department of Aviation

Unmanned Systems Companies in Virginia