Known for results and innovation, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site marks its 10th anniversary this year. The Federal Aviation Administration-designated test site provides a crucial collaboration with the FAA and the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) industry, developing systems, rules, and procedures to safely integrate UAS into the National Airspace System.Since its FAA designation in December 2013, the NPUASTS has empowered and supported North Dakota’s UAS ecosystem through important services for this growing industry, including UAS research, consulting, flight testing and providing access to facilities and assets. Helping mark this anniversary, the NPUASTS is taking active part in UAS and autonomy conferences, including this month’s AUVSI XPONENTIAL, where Test Site leaders will be leading and joining presentations throughout the week.“We’re proud to bring the experience and passion to support UAS growth here and throughout the industry,” said NPUASTS Executive Director Trevor Woods. “This team has an unmatched level of expertise that’s created new initiatives, shaped regulations and policy, and driven technological advancements. We have been an important partner to many in realizing our airspace’s potential and helping operators achieve their autonomy goals.”“As we enter our second decade, we continue to provide assistance to local, state and tribal governments, unlocking capabilities for every community. We will lead technology-forward actions throughout the nation, and be a trusted partner with the Department of Defense in protecting the country.”AUVSI XPONENTIAL Events and PresentationsOur team will be at AUVSI XPONENTIAL from April 22-25 at the San Diego Convention Center, and available to connect at Booth #5318. Attendees are invited to learn more from NPUASTS experts at presentations throughout the week.Tuesday, April 23, 2:30 p.m. PDTElevating Aviation CybersecurityChris Theisen, Director of Research and DevelopmentWednesday, April 24, 10:30 a.m. PDT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shaping Tomorrow: North Dakota’s FAA Exemption&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Erin Roesler, Deputy Executive DirectorThursday, April 25, 11:30 a.m. PDT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Transforming Healthcare Access: MHA Nation’s Drone Delivery Initiative&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Landon Johnson, Project ManagerThursday, April 25, 11 a.m. PDT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vantis: Revolutionizing UAS Operations Through Shared Infrastructure&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Trevor Woods, Executive DirectorDecade of DiscoveryThe NPUASTS has been an integral member of the FAA’s UAS program from the beginning, with North Dakota’s diverse airspace, defense and aviation history, and mix of rural and urban areas, all proving to be important factors in its designation as one of the original six UAS Test Sites.Since then, the NPUASTS has succeeded in passing milestones throughout, including<ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li style="text-align:justify;">2013 – Receives FAA UAS Test Site designation</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2014 –&nbsp;First UAS flights</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2015 –&nbsp;Receives FAA Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) designation&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2015 –&nbsp;Begins work with NASA on various projects</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2015 –&nbsp;Starts network infrastructure concept, later becoming Vantis, a NPUASTS-administered program</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2018 –&nbsp;Selected as part of FAA’s Integration Pilot Program (IPP) to test and evaluate integration of civil and public drones into the NAS</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2019 –&nbsp;Awarded FAA UAS traffic management Pilot Program (UPP)</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2018 –&nbsp;Begins true beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2019 –&nbsp;Vantis receives state authorization, launches in 2020</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2020 –&nbsp;Selected for UAS BEYOND program, the next phase of FAA’s UAS pilot program</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2021 –&nbsp;First Vantis UAS flights</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2022 –&nbsp;Mission and Network Operations Center (MNOC) opens outside Grand Forks</li><li style="text-align:justify;">2023 –&nbsp;Granted FAA waivers for NPUASTS-supported BVLOS flights&nbsp;</li></ul>

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Known for results and innovation, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site marks its 10th anniversary this year. The Federal Aviation Administration-designated test site provides a crucial collaboration with the FAA and the unmanned aircraft system industry, developing systems, rules, and procedures to safely integrate UAS into the National Airspace System.

Northern Plains UAS Test Site Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

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