Unmanned Aircraft Selected to Support Site Acceptance Testing of North Dakota’s Statewide BVLOS Network

This aircraft will test installed network components, ensure safety and reliability of the network, perform use-case development flights, and help NPUASTS set the standard requirements for any aircraft seeking to fly on the network.

“We’ve talked about North Dakota’s statewide BVLOS network as a turnkey product. Extensive testing and validation of the system during development is part of that,” said Nicholas Flom, executive director of NPUASTS. “The network will be widely accessible to support public and commercial use cases because of this testing.”

North Dakota’s statewide BVLOS network will enable UAS (or drone) BVLOS flights across the state of North Dakota. Three leading aviation infrastructure companies – Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies Company; L3Harris Technologies; and Thales USA – were selected to work with NPUASTS to develop and employ the physical infrastructure of this first-of-its-kind network. Ensuring the safety and reliability of this network, as it is built out, will be essential.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this important initiative, the first of its kind in the U.S.,” said Hannan Parvizian, CEO and Co-Founder of Volansi. “Not only does this state-driven initiative position North Dakota as a leader in BVLOS operations, it also supports the growth of unmanned aviation by creating a viable model that could be adopted across the country – and maybe even the world.”