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Subjects: NPT, JVN

Ottawa Airport Authority, NAV CANADA and QinetiQ Canada Partner to Trial Drone Detection Technology at YOW


OTTAWA, Oct. 2, 2019 /CNW/ - Coincident with the release of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on UAS Mitigation at Airports (BRTF)'s Report on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Mitigation at Airports, the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority (the Airport Authority) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with NAV CANADA and QinetiQ Canada (QinetiQ) to trial the company's Obsidian Counter UAS System at YOW.

According to the findings of the BRTF Interim Report, published July 12, 2019, "the threat of UAS intrusions introduces great risk and highlights the need for solutions that can safeguard airports from rogue UAS and this potentially disruptive technology. Recent UAS incidents at airports raise concerns of gaps in safety and security and underscore the need for airports to have clear policies to manage these incidents."

The Airport Authority is continually seeking ways to improve YOW's situational awareness within its vast perimeter, regardless of weather or lighting conditions. QinetiQ's Obsidian Counter UAS System has been designed specifically for drone detection, and features enhanced scope and coverage to recognize drone features, while avoiding misclassification of non-drone activity such as bird or wildlife movement.

The Airport Authority, NAV CANADA and QinetiQ will be working in cooperation to facilitate the installation and employment of the Obsidian micro-Doppler radar unit with the goal of determining the feasibility of the system to function compatibly in a civilian airport environment.

Several objectives for the trial have been identified, including:

Quotes:

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority
"The trial with QinetiQ's Obsidian Counter UAS System will provide all parties the opportunity to test a viable detection and mitigation system at an active airport. The trial dovetails perfectly with both the Airport Authority's Drone Incident Protocol and the recommendations in the BRTF's Interim and Final reports," said Mark Laroche, President and CEO of the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority, and member of the Blue Ribbon Task Force.

QinetiQ Canada
"Obsidian Counter UAS is specifically designed to meet the current and forecast threat of drone incursion upon critical national infrastructure, including daily operations in complex environments such as the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. This trial will provide all parties with operational evaluation, as well as considerable data to inform future improvements, all the while providing immediate benefits to safety," said Robert Aubé, Managing Director of QinetiQ Canada.

NAV CANADA
"Establishing drone security measures at airports is a crucial component to mitigating risks and maintaining the safety of our skies. Collaborations like this one are crucial to developing policies and practices that ensure drones are safely integrated in our airspace," said Neil Wilson, CEO of NAV CANADA, and member of the Blue Ribbon Task Force.

For more information on the Blue Ribbon Task Force, please visit: uasmitigationatairports.org.

About the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority
OMCIAA manages, operates and develops airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of Canada's Capital Region, generating more than $2.2 billion annually in total economic activity in Ottawa and Gatineau.

About QinetiQ Canada
QinetiQ is a leading science and engineering company operating primarily in the defence, security and aerospace markets providing Products, Solutions and Advisory Services to predominantly government organisations including defence departments, as well as international customers in other targeted sectors. QinetiQ Canada has offices in Ottawa, Calgary and Medicine Hat.

About NAV CANADA
NAV CANADA is a private, not-for-profit company, established in 1996, providing air traffic control, airport advisory services, weather briefings and aeronautical information services for more than 18 million square kilometres of Canadian domestic and international airspace. The Company is internationally recognized for its safety record, and technology innovation. Air traffic management systems developed by NAV CANADA are used by air navigation service providers in countries worldwide.

SOURCE Ottawa International Airport Authority


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