San Bernardino, California, September 9, 2020 – The Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) and County of San Bernardino have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Institute of Technology’s Center for Autonomous Systems & Technologies.
These entities are cooperating to develop, test, exhibit and commercialize unmanned aerial systems technologies (UAS) while demonstrating cutting-edge product applications at the IVDA’s new UAS Center at SBD located at SBD International Airport. Michael Burrows, Executive Director of the IVDA recently said, “The IVDA is proud to launch this partnership at a critical time for our new UAS Center at SBD. With these talented partners, we are finally training new pilots, testing cutting edge technology, and charting the future of flight at SBD.”
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering research and education institution known for its high research output and its high quality facilities, including Jet Propulsion Laboratory (owned by NASA), the Caltech Seismological Laboratory and the International Observatory Network. Its Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST) opened in October 2017.
Doctor Mory Gharib, Director of CAST and Aerospace Department head at Caltech commented, “It’s important for us to have this collaboration and capability to actively showcase and test our emerging technologies in a real-world environment at a growing commercial airport. We’re ready for the challenge and are eager to help get the new UAS Center off the ground.”
Curt Hagman, Chairman and 4th District Supervisor of the County of San Bernardino, sees this as a major step forward for the region: “The time is now for the Inland Empire to take a leadership role in UAS applications. Our partnership with CalTech will bring new opportunities to expand research and development in the UAS sector, increase investment in growing technology companies in San Bernardino County and create new manufacturing and career pathways for our region.”
This partnership will be implemented through the IVDA’s UAS Center at SBD which opened in July, 2020. Co-located at the San Bernardino Regional Emergency Training Center at SBD, the UAS Center at SBD is providing a unique test and demonstration setting under FAA guidance, including a secure site in a metropolitan area to conduct UAS test flights. The UAS Center at SBD also offers training and certifications to the region’s first responders on how to further utilize and integrate these systems into their operations.
To learn more about the UAS Center at SBD International airport, visit www.uascentersbd.com.
About the Inland Valley Development Agency: Based in San Bernardino, California, the Inland Valley Development Agency is a joint powers authority dedicated to the effective reuse of the former Norton Air Force Base for the economic benefit of the East Valley region of San Bernardino County. The IVDA is comprised of local intergovernmental member agencies, including the County of San Bernardino and the cities of Colton, Loma Linda and San Bernardino. To learn more, visit www.ivdajpa.org.
