11 December 2024

The recent reports of drones flying at night in various regions of New Jersey have raised alarm, but Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in Washington, NJ, and an expert in the technology, says while he appreciates the public alarm he does not believe the objects are drones or any sort of a threat.

Will Austin

"After analyzing numerous videos shared by concerned citizens, I’m inclined to believe that most of the reported “large drones” were actually manned aircraft mistakenly identified as drones,” Austin said. “Smaller drones, like DJI Mavics, have also been observed and are likely being operated legally at night. So far, I haven’t found any proof to substantiate claims about drones weighing over 55 pounds being in use at night in New Jersey.” Austin believes that a sighting of a military drone over the local military base known as Picatinny Arsenal could have occurred, but as of yet there is no evidence to substantiate or disprove such claims.

Austin, president of the college for 22 years, has been instrumental in the development of its drone training program, which has gained national recognition for its cutting-edge training in the design, operation and maintenance of drones for multiple useful purposes.

Austin has been sought out by media and government officials for his opinion about recent sightings of objects at night in New Jersey that have raised concern from the public, and his thoughts have appeared in hundreds of newspapers around the nation, USA Today, and he recently appeared on Inside Edition, illustrating the significance of drone news to the public. Some of the sightings were near former President Donald Trump’s National Golf Course in Bedminster.

“We should be alert to anything that might be a threat to our security or safety, and this is a good opportunity for the public to better understand this new technology, Austin said. “I believe because it is so often connected to warfare or security threats in the popular culture we are perhaps hypersensitive to its misues.

To offer clear, useful public information about the technology, Austin has partnered in with Jonathan Rupprecht, an attorney specializing in the emerging legal issues surrounding drones, who has consulted with Austin and WarrenUAS, the fast-growing drone program at the college, and serves as the college drone attorney.

To contribute to the public dialogue about the issue the two offered their thoughts to a USA Today among others that offered detailed information about legal issues related to drones, including regulations about their flight and their appropriate and legal use.

“Drones are good, and can be used for good,” Rupprecht told the outlet. “The vast majority of people out there are flying drones for good reasons, whether it be for fun or to save lives, like with search and rescue missions. But you just have to know how to do it properly.”

Austin was also interviewed by WFMZ TV, where he pointed out that there is not much information a drone could capture in the dark and that the sightings do not likely pose a threat.

“This spike in drone reports underscores a rising public fascination with drones as the future of Urban Air Mobility edges closer to becoming reality, which will place large drone like aircraft into the NAS, Austin said. “For now, though, most of these sightings appear to involve recreational drones or misidentifications. It’s a great opportunity to keep this dialogue going while distinguishing perception and understandable anxiety from the actual evidence.

Warren UAS is now enrolling some 100 students in its acclaimed drone training program where they have use of more than 100 unmanned systems, nearly one for every student, in two new facilities to learn about designing and programming drones, flying them safely and maintaining them.

Graduates will have job opportunities in a host of fields where drones are being used – including law enforcement, transit, utility maintenance, entertainment, environmental protection and, especially, agriculture – a field where WarrenUAS has become a national leader with a specialized niche program. Many graduates have enjoyed starting salaries in excess of six figures with a two-year associates degree.