Nevada Set to Build State’s First Urban Test Site for UAS
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Nevada is set to build the Henderson Unmanned Vehicle Range, the state’s first urban test site for UAS.
The site, which will feature a 150-foot runway, a vertical takeoff, landing pads, and an observation tower, will be built on property owned by the Nevada State College, which is located in Henderson, Nevada.
“The location of the urban test site is ideal for the UAS industry,” says Barbra Coffee, director of economic development and tourism for Henderson, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“It’s close to a major urban center — the Las Vegas Strip — and provides support that this growing industry sector needs.”
The site is being built as a part of a partnership between the Nevada State College, the city of Henderson, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems.
The Institute for Autonomous Systems will play an integral role in the operation of the site, as it provides FAA regulatory guidance and UAS flight support and coordination for companies carrying out testing, development and training.
Besides receiving the new site, Nevada State College has also received a $24,000 grant to help teachers in the Clark County School District develop STEM curriculum to teach students about UAS through expert training and hands-on experiences.
“The intent is to bring other teachers to NSC to show them how to introduce to their own campus, the teaching of the use of drones,” says Dr. Andy Kuniyuki, Dean of Nevada State College’s School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
“It will then encourage students to say, ‘I want to be a part of this. I want to go into some STEM-related (science, technology, engineering, math) discipline to participate more fully.’”
