Crown provides a variety of IDIQ services to NCDOT. Mostly it involves providing SME support, analyses, recommendations, and assessments pertaining to NCDOT’s efforts in AAM. The largest ongoing part of this has been supporting NC’s participation in the IPP and BEYOND programs. We also provide one full-time staff augmentation position to conduct UAS operations around the state.
We utilize the following skill sets to execute this subcontract:
- sUAS operator – certificated and experienced
- Project manager
- Aviation and airspace analysts
- Senior aviation SME
- Strategy advisor
Tasks are IDIQ and quite variable, including:
- Executing UAS missions (e.g., bridge inspection)
- Managing the BEYOND program and the team of partners – organizing TIMs, reporting data to FAA, interfacing with officials to obtain waivers
- Analyzing airspace for suitability for AAM operations
- Developing conops for various missions and applications
- Developing technical and budget strategy to achieve state objectives
- Developing the NC AAM Handbook, which is intended to help the state’s public airports navigate what to do about AAM.
Crown’s support has helped made NCDOT’s IPP and BEYOND programs the exemplars of the nation, with more UAS operations completed than all other programs combined. Crown helped pioneer the medical package delivery use case, and continues to set precedents in BVLOS operations and novel use cases such as bridge inspections, construction site surveillance, and environmental surveys. Crown has brought high-visibility events to NC, such as the first flight of the EHang EH-216 aircraft in the US.
The principal value proposition to NCDOT from Crown is the deep expertise in aviation, especially AAM, and our knowledge of trends at the state, Federal, and international levels. This enables Crown to provide highly insightful advice to the Division of Aviation that expedites progress and saves money.
Client
- North Carolina Department of Transportation - Aviation Division