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Cyber Defense Systems announced this week the company has received an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. The company says the certification is the first for small hand-launched UASs under 100lbs in the United States, and allows the  CyberBug Unmanned Aerial System to fly in the National Airspace System.

An EAC permits UAS flight operations in specified sections of the NAS. It also authorizes unmanned aircraft manufacturers to conduct research and development, crew training and marketing demonstration.

To date, the FAA has issued only 12 EACs for UAS operations in civil airspace, with Cyber Defense receiving the latest. Cyber Defense earned the right to fly in the NAS after successfully completing a CyberBug demonstration flight for FAA officials at a location in Pasco County, FL on June 15.

Billy Robinson, president and chief executive officer of Cyber Defense Systems, called receipt of an FAA EAC a "significant company milestone," noting that this achievement was obtained "through a lot of hard work on the part of the CyberBug™ team and outstanding support from the FAA."

The CyberBug may be used for military, law enforcement and commercial applications. The small unmanned air vehicles can be assembled in minutes and launched from an open area to provide instant aerial surveillance. The vehicles fly for up to an hour and transmit video and data to a portable ground control station.

Representatives with Cyber Defense say a CyberBug operator can safely monitor dangerous events, see around buildings, over hills and beyond line of sight. Applications include search and rescue, traffic monitoring, environmental, research, border patrol, drug interdiction and more.

FMI: www.cduav.com