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FAA UAS Integration Office Manager visits Grand Forks AFB

Jim Williams, Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, speaks to two Airmen from the 69th Maintenance Squadron during an official visit to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., on Aug. 15, 2014. Williams visited with the junior enlisted Airmen prior to witnessing a joint test flight of two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which featured one MQ-9 Reaper and one RQ-4B Global Hawk. Since being selected to be the manager of the FAA UAS Integration Office in March 2012, Williams has had the responsibility of coordinating all aspects of the FAA’s efforts to integrate UAS into the NAS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

FAA UAS Integration Office Manager visits Grand Forks AFB

Jim Williams, Federal Aviation Administration Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office manager, meets with senior leaders of the 319th Air Base Wing to discuss the status of operations for the integration of UAS in National Airspace System during an official visit to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., on Aug. 15, 2014. (From left to right in uniform) Col. Robert Cook, 319th ABW vice commander; Command Chief Master Sgt. David Duncan and Col. Paul Bauman, 319th ABW commander. The 319th ABW is the host unit for tenant units such as the 69th Reconnaissance Group, which operates unmanned aircraft such as the RQ-4B Global Hawk. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

FAA UAS Integration Office Manager visits Grand Forks AFB

Jim Williams, Federal Aviation Administration Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office manager, observes an RQ-4B Global Hawk parked on the flightline from the air traffic control tower on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., on Aug. 15, 2014. Williams visited the Radar Approach Control Tower, as one of the stops on tour incorporated into his official visit to the base. The RAPCON tower is the primary facility used by the Air Force for directing approaches and departures of all aircraft in and out of the installation, to include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

FAA UAS Integration Office Manager visits Grand Forks AFB

Jim Williams, Federal Aviation Administration Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office manager, talks with Lt. Col. Jonathan Castellanos, 319th Operations Support Squadron commander about UAS integration goals as they leave the air traffic control tower on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., on Aug. 15, 2014. Williams visited the Radar Approach Control Tower, as one of the stops on tour incorporated into his official visit to the base. The RAPCON tower is the primary facility used by the Air Force for directing approaches and departures of all aircraft in and out of the installation, to include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

FAA UAS Integration Office manager visits Grand Forks AFB

Published Aug. 19, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- One of the U.S. federal government's top officials for the integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems recently visited with Warriors of the North.

Jim Williams, Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office made an official visit to Grand Forks Air Force Base in order to observe a joint test flight of two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which took place August 15, at the flightline here, and featured one MQ-9 Reaper and one RQ-4B Global Hawk.

According to Aviation Week Magazine, "the UAS Integration Office has the extraordinary challenge of accomplishing the efficient and timely integration of UAS in the National Airspace System while balancing the political pressure and economic needs of the nation."

Since being selected to be the manager of the FAA UAS Integration Office in March 2012, Williams has had the responsibility of coordinating all aspects of the FAA's efforts to integrate UAS into the NAS. This includes activities for rulemaking, standards, guidance material, industry coordination, interagency coordination, research and development, and planning to support UAS integration. The new office combines the formerly independent efforts of the Air traffic Organization and the Aviation Safety Organization.

Although Williams was here primarily for the joint test flight, he did take full advantage of his official visit by taking the time to speak with base senior leaders.

"I'm here to observe your UAS operations and see how I can be of help," said Williams at the start of his meeting with Col. Paul Bauman, 319th Air Base Wing commander, and three other base leaders.
"Colonel Bauman had previously invited me to the base, but I could not come at the time of his original request, so when I was invited to come here for the joint flight test involving the two UAVs, I decided to meet with him and the rest of the senior leadership so they could share with me their perspective on how things were going."

Williams also spent time meeting and speaking with junior Airmen who directly impact the UAS mission here.

The 319th Operations Support Squadron gave Williams a tour of the Radar Approach Control Tower, the primary facility used for directing approaches and departures of all aircraft in and out of the installation, to include UAVs.

The tour of the RAPCON tower was followed by visit to one of the Global Hawks, where two Airmen from the base waited for Williams in order to talk about their work and challenges of maintaining the base's largest UAV.

Williams expressed his appreciation for tour of the tower and getting to speak with the Airmen.

"I enjoy speaking to people like the UAV pilots and maintainers because workers at the tactical-level may provide us with more valuable information about how we can evaluate and improve our UAS mission," said Williams. "It's important that they know that what they do for this mission matters greatly, and any future success of this program will depend heavily on the work they continue to do here because it starts with them."