Research at GT Aeronautics is directed at the booming remotely piloted/unmanned aircraft system (UAS) market. As the world and our nation's aerospace industry enter the next century of aviation, state-of-the-art remotely piloted and unmanned aircraft are leading the way and becoming the focal point of the aviation industry, both military and commercial.

GT Aeronautics is researching the needs of the commercial aviation industry and developing remotely piloted aircraft systems to meet those needs. Design and development of a medium-sized, multi-role UAS, the Bandit UAS, and a smaller multi-role UAS, the Tacamo UAS, are underway now and the manufacture of both aircraft has already begun. Multi-role tasking and adaptablity are key elements of the design, as well as the extensive use of composite structures.

Additionally, GT Aeronautics is investigating the commercial and defense requirements for a high speed micro air vehicle, or MAV. Design and development of an actual micro UAS, micro sensors and the cutting-edge composite structure required for a long endurance micro UAS is underway with the company's Bandito MAV.

Finally, GT Aeronautics is taking on a leadership role in the development of the rules and regulations in which remotely piloted aircraft and/or unmanned aircraft system flight will fall under. Remotely piloted aircraft flight within our national airspace system (NAS) is already happening and its common, future use is inevitable. Developing an airspace system that can accommodate remotely piloted aircraft is critical to the success and future of our aerospace industry.

Members of the GT Aeronautics management team are currently assigned to three international technical standardization committees that are actively establishing the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) for remotely piloted aircraft flight in the NAS. These committees, which invite industry-wide input, are working hand-in-hand with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to standardize the regulations for Operator Qualifications, Flight Operations and Airworthiness of remotely piloted/unmanned aircraft systems. By allowing industry-wide membership and input, these committees will ensure a fair, balanced and above all, safe solution to the regulation of remotely piloted/unmanned aircraft systems flight in our National Airspace System

And while the word "unmanned" is used extensively in the industry to describe these aircraft, in reality, it only pertains to the fact that the aircraft itself is not carrying the pilot. The pilot(s) for remotely piloted aircraft are simply stationed somewhere else, either on the ground, on a ship or in another aircraft, flying the remotely piloted aircraft from a virtual cockpit - a computer that is interfaced to the aircraft through a radio link - so that positive control of the aircraft is maintained at all times. Aviation skills, in addition to navigation and communication skills, are identical to those used by pilots of full-scale, manned aircraft. Developing standardized pilot qualifications and flight procedures that allow remotely piloted aircraft to safely fly in harmony with manned aircraft is a key objective of the management team at GT Aeronautics. Additionally, developing proper training, certification and licensing of UAS pilots will ensure the public that remotely piloted aircraft are safely operated under the competent control of professional pilots. Meeting those goals will allow the aviation industry to tap the full potential of the commercial remotely piloted aircraft market.

The next century of aviation promises to be a very exciting period. In today's world of giant corporations and miles of red tape, GT Aeronautics stands out as a small company with a very big advantage - our engineers are permitted to think "way outside the box", dramatically decreasing the time from "design" to "fly" and allowing GT Aeronautics to live up to our motto of "Innovations in Aerospace".