by AUVSI News
Canada’s UAS Centre of Excellence can now begin operations at its test range in Alma, Quebec, after receiving approval from Transport Canada.
Besides facilitating research and development, the test range will provide the UAS industry with “dedicated, restricted airspace,” where beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights can be carried out.
“Transport Canada is proud of the progress we are making to support innovation and research in Canada’s drone sector,” says Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport.
“By partnering with the industry and our communities, we are making great strides as we continue to facilitate research and development and leverage technology to fulfil our mandate.”
In partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Arctic UAV Inc., Transport Canada will be one of the first entities to operate at the new test range, when it begins trials using a Sea-Hunter UAS.
The trials will offer hands on experience on how to operate sophisticated UAS, and will also help develop “procedures, training, and risk assessment tools for surveillance operations in Northern Canada.”
In an effort to stay up to date with everything that is unmanned, Transport Canada plans to acquire a system that would use UAS to survey ice and oil spills in the Canadian Arctic.
Over the next three years, Arctic UAV will also conduct various research and development flight trials, after being awarded a contract from Transport Canada.
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