MGC Aviation Campus Certified by FAA to Fly PTERA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle | Schools

COCHRAN, GA. – The Georgia Aviation Campus of Middle Georgia College was issued its first Certificate of Authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly the PTERA UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) at the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport in Eastman. The PTERA (Prototype Technology Evaluation Research Aircraft) was developed in 2010 by MGC faculty and students, and is the first composite airframe built using carbon composite technologies and high density foam, said Chad Dennis, the MGC Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Coordinator and Aircraft Structural Technology Instructor.

MGC is one of only 22 colleges and universities ever approved to fly a UAV in the National Air System, said Dennis. The Aviation campus will conduct a series of flights this summer to test the PTERA’s new technology. “We want to test for any significant wear or critical fractures,” said Dennis. “We want to make sure it holds together.”

Dennis said, “Georgia has long been a national leader in developing aviation technologies.  Unmanned aviation shall be no exception.  I have seen the job market for UAV’s go from a few postings a month to hundreds of postings.  Unmanned is the next big era in aviation and Middle Georgia College is on the forefront.”