Hopes To Attract Manufacturers Of Large UAVs

The executive director of Battle Creek, MI Executive Airport (KBTL) has big plans for the drone industry at the airport.

Television station WWMT reports that Lary Bowron hopes to make Battle Creek a major player in the manufacture of large UAVs.

Bowron is working with Battle Creek Unlimited, a nonprofit economic development agency, to attract large drone manufacturers to the Michigan airport. While the aircraft would be similar to those used by the military, Bowron said the industry is rapidly expanding into civilian uses.

Bowron proposes developing a large parcel of land on the airport grounds into an industrial campus where UAV companies could set up manufacturing and research facilities. Joe Sobieralski, president and chief executive officer of Battle Creek Unlimited, said one of the most promising markets for such civilian aircraft is package delivery.

Sobieralski said that a recent feasibility study showed that the airport location is well suited to such a project, which is in its planning stages.

Both Bowron and Sobieralski said that developing the drone park would cost in the neighborhood of $10 million.

FMI: Source report