Skyway UAS Range Chooses Mainstay for Drone Evaluation Facility

uAvionics has been awarded a contract by Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, making them the primary developer and system integrator for the Skyway UAS range near Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The company will "deploy centrally managed, networked Command & Control (C2) and Detect & Avoid (or DAA) services that enable uncrewed Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations between nodes on the Skyway." The backbone of the scheme will be uAvionix’s SkyLine Cloud-based service, the same one that was approved for the firm's recent BVLOS testing in North Dakota. SkyLine allows each node along the Skyway to sport the same C2 and DAA capabilities, equipped with radar, ADS-B receivers, computer-vision technologies, radios, and aviation weather monitoring systems to provide excellent situational awareness. The end result is an adaptable, safe test range for developers to bring their uncrewed aircraft to the next level.

“Working with OAIRE and partners on the deployment of this range near Tulsa, OK represents another great opportunity for us to integrate our technology and support a growing base of customers conducting regional BVLOS operations”, said Christian Ramsey, Managing Director for Uncrewed Aviation and Aviation Networks at uAvionix. “Sharing a vision with OAIRE and deploying proven technologies for uncrewed operations and aviation networks will ensure we deliver opportunity and value for OAIRE, and Oklahoma’s large enterprises and accelerating startups.”

The Skyway Range is one of a handful of projects begun under the Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility (TRAM) Cluster. It's aimed at nearly any type of drone developer or manufacturer, offering a test range to put their aircraft through their paces in a somewhat controlled environment. The Osage Nation has proven quite invested in the burgeoning UAS industry, integrating its own Skyway36 Droneport in Tulsa with Oklahoma State University's local AAM network in the vicinity.

“As part of OSU’s land-grant mission, we are committed to serving the State of Oklahoma and building for the future,” said Dr. Jamey Jacob, OAIRE Executive Director. “This partnership and the Skyway Range expand opportunities for a variety of companies both large and small and represents a significant step toward developing and testing advanced air mobility technologies that will benefit the region and nation.”

FMI: www.uavionix.com