Contact: 
Jessica Powers 
Flint Hills Solutions LLC
jpowers@fhsllc.com
316.660.6305

Jan. 28, 2009
For immediate release

SYMPOSIUM EXAMINES UAV CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES

(Wichita, Kan.) The use of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) for emergency response and operating UAVs in civilian airspace are two of the issues to be discussed during the 3rd Annual Kansas Unmanned Systems Symposium, April 19-21, 2009. The symposium will be held at the Hyatt Regency Wichita along with a UAV demonstration at the Kansas Air National Guard's Smoky Hill Range near Salina.  

Major General Tod Bunting, Kansas Adjutant General, is scheduled as keynote speaker. One of the key events will be the official roll out of the new Kansas UAV Technology Evaluation Center. The program evaluates UAV systems for emergency response, Department of Defense and Homeland Security applications through a series of laboratory simulations and in-the-field demonstrations. The center will help meet the national objective of integrating UAVs in the National Airspace System.

The Unmanned Air System (UAS) market is projected to reach $16 billion by 2015. The symposium will examine how UAVs can play a role in emergency response such as Homeland Security, disaster management and search and rescue situations. Other sessions will examine UAV see-and-avoid technologies, next-generation UAVs and payload systems. It is open to manufacturers, payload system providers, technology enablers, and emergency responders.

"UAVs are an integral element of U.S. military capabilities, and their civilian uses are just starting to be explored," says Roger Powers, president of Flint Hills Solutions. "There are dozens of opportunities for manufacturers looking to diversify their customer base and for potential users interested in acquiring an unmanned aircraft system."

Flint Hills Solutions, an Augusta, Kan.-based company emphasizing UAS technology, is hosting the symposium in partnership with the Kansas Air National Guard. Other sponsors include AAI Corporation, the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Salina Airport Authority, Kansas State University at Salina, Tracewell Systems and Technology Services Corporation.

For a complete list of conference highlights or to register for the symposium, go to http://www.fhssymposiums.com/.

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