Vantis and uAvionix received approval from the FAA to conduct beyond-visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone flights in North Dakota.
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Vantis is the state’s unmanned aircraft system (UAS) BVLOS network, also the first of its kind in the country. Vantis paired with uAvionix, a drone company, to receive FAA approval to conduct BVLOS drone flights after uAvionix had proven it had established proper risk mitigations required by safety standards for the specific BVLOS operation in the national airspace system (NAS).
The Northern Plains UAS Test Site partnered with Thales USA to develop and use Vantis. Vantis is a UAS system that helps UAS pilots to command and control the UAS. It also helps the UAS pilots to see and avoid other aircraft if they are flying beyond a visual line of sight. The system is comprised of ground-based aviation infrastructure, which is also used in traditional aviation. This infrastructure lowers the barrier of entry to BVLOS flights for many pilots.
Photo from Vantis
With Vantis, North Dakota has brought UAS into commercial sectors safely and economically. The UAS company has had success which sets it up for the next phase of operation. The next phase is set to begin this summer.
“This first-of-its-kind approval for our partners is a critical step that validates our state’s investment and years of work to bring UAS aircraft to commercial sectors in a safe and economic way,” North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum said. “Other states are reaching out to us as a national leader in UAS.”
“We are incredibly proud to lead the way in North Dakota with our partners from Vantis and Thales,” uAvionix president Christian Ramsey said. “Being able to demonstrate much of our ecosystem in approved BVLOS flight is a major milestone for our company, our partners, and the broader aviation ecosystem.”
The Executive Director at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site Trevor Woods said, “Vantis was designed and implemented to serve many drone operators across multiple sectors.”
“This first approval is an important milestone for Vantis, as a blueprint for widespread commercial BVLOS enablement,” Woods said.
The Director of ATC and Digital Aviation Solutions for the Americas at Thales USA, Frank Matus said, “We thank the Federal Aviation Administration for acknowledging that our approach to BVLOS in North Dakota maintains the same safety standards that the agency expects for all users within the national airspace.”
“We continue to collaborate with FAA as regulations evolve to ensure that Vantis meets the needs of all stakeholders,” Matus said.
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