Unmanned Aircraft System

As a leader in the field of non-military uses of unmanned or remotely piloted aircraft, the USDA-ARS JER Flight Team has conducted unmanned aircraft flights on the Jornada and other remote locations across the western US, and has collected over 90,000 aerial images and other aerial data used in the processing of those images. The Jornada collaborates with New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Test Center (NMSU PSL UAS FTC). For more information, go to https://jornada.nmsu.edu/remote-sensing/uas.

Jornada

Science-based management strategies for sustainability of agriculture and other land uses

Unmanned Aircraft System

USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range Unmanned Aircraft System Flight Crew. From left to right: Chris Pierce, Dr. Al Rango, Dr. Andrea Laliberte, Craig Winters, Connie Maxwell, Jim Lenz, Amy Slaughter, Dave Thatcher.

MLB Bat 3 flight training with Dr. Steve Morris at Jornada Airstrip.

MLB Bat 3 flight training at Jornada Airstrip with bovine observers. From left to right: Chris Pierce, Jim Lenz, Dr. Steve Morris, Justin Van Zee and Dave Thatcher (criollo cattle on runway).

Crew members completing Ground Control Station preflight procedures. From left to right: Dr. Andrea Laliberte, Craig Winters, Amy Slaughter.

Crew members completing Ground Control Station preflight procedures in the GCS trailer and crew members completing aircraft checks in the foreground. From left to right: Julia Olivarez, Connie Maxwell, Dave Thatcher, Amy Slaughter, Jim Lenz.

Dave May from NMSU Physical Science Laboratory UAS Flight Test Center setting up the Bat 3 launch catapult at Oliktok Point, Alaska. Flights were conducted to test small UAS ability to function in Arctic conditions.

Bat 3 preflight engine run-up. From left to right: Jim Lenz, Chris Pierce and Craig Winters.

Bat 3 with Tetracam Multi Camera Array (MCA) on catapult.

Connie Maxwell tensions catapult for Bat 3 launch while Brian Porter from MLB Company observes.

Chris Pierce prepares to pull the launch cord at the Gravelly Ridges launch site. Jim Lenz, external pilot, and Dave Thatcher wait for launch.

Bat 3 is launched by Dr. Al Rango pulling the cord attached to the launch pin. Dr. Steve Morris acts as external pilot.

Bat 3 launches off the catapult.

Bat 3 is brought in for landing at Jornada Airstrip by Dr. Steve Morris during flight crew training. From left to right: Dr. Steve Morris, Chris Pierce, Justin Van Zee, Jim Lenz, Dave Thatcher.

Bat 3 coming in for a landing at Reynolds Creek, Idaho airstrip.

Dave Thatcher lands Bat 3 at Jornada Airstrip. From left to right: Jim Lenz, Dave Thatcher and Chris Pierce.

Bat 3 With Tetracam Multi Camera Array (MCA) landing at the Jornada NRCS SCAN site. In background, Dr. Caiti Steele and Peg Gronemeyer collect spectral data.

Dave Thatcher, left, and Jim Lenz bring Bat 3 to ground station at NRCS SCAN site.

Visitors to the UAS ground station for flight demo.

The result of all that hard work! A mosaic of the Jornada NRCS SCAN site.

Bat 4 flight training with Dr. Stephen Morris at Jornada headquarters. From left to right: Amy Slaughter (JER), Dr. Stephen Morris (MLB Co.), Joe Millette (PSL-FTC), Ken Common (PSL-FTC), and John Stevens (PSL-FTC).

Bat 4 wing assembly at Jornada Airstrip during flight training.

PSL FTC crew observes at Jornada flight teams members assemble Bat 4 during flight training.

Bat 4 fully assembled and ready for flight. Dave Thatcher, external pilot, discusses Bat 4 features with Eldon Ayers and Bryce Thatcher.

Bat 4 landing after a training flight at Jornada Airstrip.

Jornada flight team with MLB Company trainers. From left to right: Dr. Stephen Morris (MLB), Connie Maxwell, Amy Slaughter, Jim Lenz, Dave Thatcher, and Austin Howard (MLB).

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