Hawaii has been selected to be a test bed for increased drone flights as the Federal Aviation Administration seeks to create rules of the air and incorporate an ever-expanding number of the flying robots into the nation’s airspace.

Hawaii, Alaska and Oregon are part of a partnership that was picked to become one of six groups nationwide for the effort, with backers hoping the Aloha State will become a mecca for unmanned vehicle research, testing and certification, creating science jobs and adding millions to the economy along the way.

The FAA said the partnership, led by the University of Alaska, "contained a diverse set of test site range locations in seven climatic zones."

The group’s research plan "includes the development of a set of standards for unmanned aircraft categories, state monitoring and navigation," the FAA said in announcing the sites Monday.

The three-state region also will work on safety standards.

The FAA reviewed 25 proposals from 24 states for the sought-after testing, which will pave the way for an expected swarm of drones.

U.S. airspace is expected to include 7,500 commercial drones within the next five years, according to the FAA. Privacy concerns have followed.

"Drones are a reality. They are growing exponentially in terms of their usage," said state Sen. Sam Slom (R, Diamond Head-Kahala-Hawaii Kai), who tried unsuccessfully last January to prohibit information-gathering from drones except in emergencies or with a warrant. Slom said he will be pursuing limiting legislation again.

The FAA said site operators will be required to comply with federal and state laws protecting individual privacy; have publicly available privacy policies; and conduct an annual review with public comment.

Backers of commercial drone use point to more benign purposes.

Amazon.com envisions package delivery via unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, and predicts such delivery will become as common as seeing mail trucks on the road.

Hawaiian Airlines, meanwhile, has expressed interest in using drones to fly routes to the mainland looking for clear-air turbulence — something that could be transmitted to passenger planes using the same route, a state official said.

Unmanned aircraft have been used in the past in Hawaii to monitor coffee plants and locate and track whales. State officials say they could be used to monitor fishing in the exclusive economic zone around the Hawaiian Islands, and help with search and rescue.

The commercial operation of UAVs over densely populated areas is prohibited. Model aircraft can be flown for recreational purposes below 400 feet above ground level.

Jim Crisafulli, director of the state Office of Aerospace Development, said test flight areas in Hawaii will include Wheeler Army Airfield on Oahu, Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island, the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai and the ocean between Hawaii and Alaska and the mainland.

Preliminary agreements have been reached with the military to use the sites, he said.

The FAA’s goal is to integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system by 2015. Plenty of details need to be worked out by Hawaii and the other states.

Sites in Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and a Virginia-New Jersey partnership also were chosen.

In Hawaii, the aerospace development office, state Department of Defense, state Airports Division and the University of Hawaii at Hilo are involved.

"We’re going to be holding meetings over the next couple of weeks to strategize on the best way to leverage the various resources we have at various sites around the state where (unmanned aerial systems) technology can be tested," Crisafulli said.

Ro Bailey, who works with the University of Alaska, will be flying in on Sunday for discussions and a visit to the 132,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island, Crisafulli said.

Crisafulli said it’s hard to say when the first UAV testing will be conducted. No federal funding comes with the site selection.

"Suffice to say, as one of six certified regions for both conducting research, testing and validating (UAV) technologies, this will provide opportunities for companies who want to certify their technologies to come to Hawaii," Crisafulli said.

Investment in the state is expected to follow.

The FAA said research goals include system safety and data gathering; aircraft certification, command and control; and ground and airborne "sense and avoid" capabilities involving other aircraft.

Larry Osborn, the Hawaii-based executive vice president for DreamHammer, a California company that develops software for unmanned systems, said the extent to which Hawaii will benefit depends on attracting UAV companies for testing and evaluation.

The state has to figure out the "right organizations that can support this activity," said Osborn, a member of the state’s aerospace advisory committee. Hangars at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station could be used for test aircraft.

"The state can go a long way towards attracting people there by perhaps establishing space on the airfield where (companies) can rent a hangar or where they can establish some offices," Osborn said.