Federal funding for Alberta drone range

FOREMOST, ALBERTA – The Government of Canada is funding enhanced aerial systems technology at the Foremost Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Range.

Western Economic Diversification Canada will invest $225,000 to support the purchase of specialized safety equipment for the Foremost Unmanned Air Systems Range. The safety system is required to test unmanned aerial vehicles beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

In addition to the Government of Canada’s support, investments of $300,000 from the government of Alberta, $35,000 from the Palliser Economic Partnership, and $30,000 from the village of Foremost will contribute to the purchase of equipment and completing the safety system at the range.

The Government of Canada’s investment in the Foremost UAS Range represents an opportunity for Alberta to become a leader of BVLOS technologies and applications. The facility offers unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators 700 square nautical miles of restricted airspace up to 18,000 feet above sea level and is one of two airspaces to have Transport Canada’s certification for beyond visual line of site operations.

It is anticipated this project will assist 12 companies, support six prototype demonstrations in an operational environment and help commercialize new and innovative UAV technologies.

Unmanned Systems Canada forecasts $1.6 billion revenues for the unmanned aerial systems sector in 2018. There are more than 70 Alberta companies, military agencies and educational institutions working in unmanned vehicle systems research, testing, development and manufacturing.

“The use of unmanned air systems (UAS) is still in its infancy and to move to the next level, companies need to test their systems beyond the line of sight,” said Jay Slemp, chairman of the Palliser Economic Partnership. “The Foremost UAS Range is only one of two places in Canada where that kind of testing can happen. Palliser Economic Partnership is proud to partner with governments of Canada and Alberta to support Foremost in developing the safety systems necessary to enhance the beyond visual line of sight testing capabilities. The arrival of these companies will have economic spin off effects far beyond Foremost into the rest of the Palliser region in southeast Alberta.”