Why Central Oregon is Ideal for UAV Test Area

Available Airspace Over Public Land 

• Like other western states, Oregon has a sizable public land base, with approximately 53 percent of its 61 million acres in federal lands.

• While Central Oregon was a crucial training area in the World War II.  Klamath Falls, Pendleton, Madras, Redmond, and Bend all had Air Force training bases.  The Military Operation Areas present in Oregon in some measure owe their presence to these former military operations.

• The Area of Consideration is in land that hosts a population density of less than 3 people per square mile, officially classified as Frontier.   Under the Juniper MOA, an area the size of Connecticut, the total population numbers less than 100 people.    

Flying Weather  

• Central Oregon has been noted first in the siting of the World War II Air Force training bases and secondly in the Chamber of commerce tag line of "300 Days of Sunshine per year" as a good place to fly.  Central Oregon also provides challenges related to weather,  in that all seasons can be represented and potentially can be represented in the same day.   

ATC Control and Lack of an Active Military Base  

• The selected area of operation is under exclusive control of Seattle Center which allows singular control over the affected airspace and control.

•  Oregon hosts  NO ACTIVE AIR FORCE BASES  so military transits and operations are primarily the Oregon AIr National Guard..   

People 

• Central Oregon was home to a thriving aviation industry  employing over 2000 people.  These employees are skilled in:
• Aircraft Design
• Aircraft Manufacture
• Aircraft Operation 
• Aircraft Maintenance and Modification

• A large and untapped talent pool exists in the community.  Less than 10% of the employee base in aviation is presently involved in the manufacture of aircraft and aircraft systems today.   Manufacturing jobs typically employee a community base of 3 times a factories employment.  This represents over 5000 jobs lost to in the Central Oregon community.     A huge opportunity to tap into this resource exists for companies willing to look into Central Oregon.