Will Be Developed Through A Grant Received By Nevada State College

An urban drone testing site is planned for Henderson, NV on property owned by Nevada State College thanks to a grant received by the school.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that ground was broken on the Henderson Unmanned Vehicle Range test site last week. The city of Henderson, the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development have partnered with the school on the project.

The site will have a 150-foot runway, as well as VTOL pads and an observation tower, according to the report.

Barbara Coffee, director of economic development and tourism for Henderson, said that the location is ideal for the UAS industry. "It's close to a major urban center ... the Las Vegas Strip ... and provides support that this growing industry needs," she said.

The college received a $24,000 grant to work with 30 teachers in the Clark County School District on STEM education, including hands-on experience with drones. The grant is expected to have some impact on more than 1,000 students.

The Institute for Autonomous Systems will provide guidance on FAA regulatory issues and flight support. It will also coordinate with companies conducting the testing and training.

While the overall goal for the grant is to get more students interested in STEM-related activities, the UAS industry will likely greatly benefit as well.

(Image from file)

FMI: https://nsc.ed