Feb 16 2015
The unmanned aircraft industry is quickly learning that there's more to North Dakota than open plains.
Just today, North Dakota Governor Jack Dalyrmple announced that ComDel Innovations signed a $3.2 million manufacturing agreement with Altavian to build aircraft and sensors, the first unmanned aircraft systems manufacturing project in the state.
The latest company announcement follows another from this week when the Federal Aviation Administration announced it would be expanding The Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial System Test Site. The expansion makes the test site in North Dakota the largest available for UAS flying anywhere in the United States.
In addition, next week the Grand Forks Air Force Base will officially sign an Extended Use Lease Agreement on the Grand Sky aerospace technology park, a 217-acre park that will provide state-of-the-art technology incubation space for businesses developing in this emerging industry when it opens in 2017. Northrop Grumman has already signed a letter of intent to be the park's first tenant just last month.
"These three announcements are a testament to how we, working together with the FAA, have made North Dakota the premier location for industry to conduct research related to UAS," said Robert Becklund, executive director of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site.
Last year, the FAA chose North Dakota and five other test sites to assist in research integrating unmanned aircraft with manned aircraft in the national airspace.
Not only does North Dakota have unencumbered airspace, but the Grand Forks region, where the test site has been established, is also home to a thriving private UAS industry, Grand Forks Air Force Base and the University of North Dakota, which has one of the most recognized UAS undergraduate programs in the nation. In addition, the state has invested more than $19 million to establish a national UAS test site and to advance UAS research and development.
"We've created an environment where the UAS industry including private enterprise, public and private research organizations and educational institutions may safely, efficiently and effectively perform their research and development related to UAS," Becklund said. "The events of this week are a perfect example of the commitment and the collaboration that industry will find in our state."