Grand Sky Business and Aviation Park and Harris Corp. have announced that they have collaborated to enable the country’s first and largest UAS airspace to support beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight operations, as well as UAS Traffic Management (UTM) research.

Described as a “super corridor,” the BVLOS corridor, which stretches up to 100 miles, is the “most technologically sophisticated UAS airspace supported by multiple and redundant systems for cooperative and non-cooperative surveillance,” according to Grand Sky and Harris.

A variety of UAS BVLOS applications are possible thanks to these surveillance capabilities, including in oil and gas, public safety and package deliveries.

“Customers of Grand Sky will have access to a truly unique UAS operational capability, in addition to better facilities, comprehensive airspace surveillance, and wide operational areas,” says Grand Sky Development Co. President Thomas Swoyer Jr.

“We all benefit from efficient and safe BVLOS flight operations and a larger corridor with proven FAA collaboration and flight authorizations.”

The surveillance system combines data feeds from a network of advanced sensors and towers. Detection of non-cooperative aircraft is provided by two long-range primary radars, which are located at Grand Forks Air Force Base and at Hillsboro, N.D. Additional layers of visibility for cooperative aircraft in the airspace is provided by the FAA secondary radars and ADS-B network in the region, as well as local Harris ADS-B Xtend sensors.

Pilots are aided by aviation-grade displays, and electronic observers monitor the airspace environment over the BVLOS corridor, safely steering UAS from approaching manned aircraft. With the combination of best practices in aviation safety management, proven technologies and experience with BVLOS regulatory approvals, airspace users will be able to advance UAS technology commercialization and routine, efficient flight operations.

UAS operators can work with Grand Sky and Harris to develop, test, and refine various difficult BVLOS concepts of operations, as well as to secure waivers from the FAA for large-scale use. A full range of UAS operations can be supported for all types and sizes of UAS along the BVLOS corridor, including a number of airspace classes and execution of diverse defense, civil and commercial applications.

“This is another first for Grand Sky and North Dakota in leading the UAS Industry,” says Harris Vice President and General Manager of Commercial UAS Solutions George Kirov.

“The size and complexity of the airspace opened to UAS BVLOS operations is unmatched in the UAS industry. The sophistication of the Harris BVLOS system at Grand Sky is also unprecedented — linking Harris’ most advanced suite of surveillance and detect-and-avoid services with a variety of surveillance assets that, together, ensure the highest level of UAS aviation safety.”

During Xponential 2019, Grand Sky will be at Booth 3621, while Harris will be at Booth 434.