On Wednesday the Department of Transportation announced the launch of a pilot program that will lead to new regulations. On Wednesday the Department of Transportation announced the launch of a pilot program that will lead to new regulations. Here's a hypothetical: How tolerant would you be of a drone flying over your head or zooming through your backyard, if it were carrying life-saving medicine to the scene of a hard-to-reach accident? The U.S. Department of Transportation plans to collect the answers to questions like this, and a slew of other data, in a new test project called the Integration Pilot Program. After combing through 149 applications from state, local and tribal governments seeking to partner with some of the world's leading technology companies, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced the winners Wednesday.

The project named'Enhancing the Region through New Technology for Unmanned Systems,' will implement a new drone technology training program at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College. This program will open up a career pathway, by enhancing the learning opportunities for high school students and extending to four-year degree attainment through partnerships with other higher-education institutions. This project aims to capitalize on the "Alleghany Highlands Drone Zone Initiative," a business accelerator program to support enterprises in the UAS industry in Alleghany County. "Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) is inspiring the innovative thinking that will help to push Virginia's economy forward," says Governor, Ralph Northam.