GRAND FORKS, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted a two-year authorization for the Northern Plains UAS Test Site to fly large unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) beyond visual line of sight.

Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, pushed the FAA to approve the two-year Certificate of Authorization to help advance UAS technology to keep the nation safe and strengthen North Dakota’s role in the development of UAS research, training, and innovation.

U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson will travel to North Dakota next week to witness the groundbreaking beyond visual line of sight flight to be conducted from Grand Sky aviation park.  

“Beyond line of sight UAS operation will propel even greater innovation at Grand Sky,” Heitkamp said. “As I’ve worked to advance North Dakota’s civilian and military UAS research and development, I’ve pushed the FAA to take steps like this one that will help protect national security and develop technologies to keep our borders secure, prevent the trafficking of drugs, and protect against acts of terrorism.  Grand Sky is on the cutting edge of UAS development, and this authorization will allow our world-class aviation pioneers to continue to advance the technology that has a big future for both commercial and national security purposes.” 

Background

Heitkamp has long been working to boost cutting-edge UAS research in North Dakota and across the country. In May, Heitkamp joined  U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao to announce that the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA selected the North Dakota Department of Transportation as one of 10 entities nationwide to help implement a pilot program to test the further integration of UAS into the national airspace, which Heitkamp helped push. North Dakota’s participation in the program leverages the unique expertise of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks. In 2016, Heitkamp played a critical role in successfully pushing the FAA to authorize the Northern Plains UAS Test Site as the first site in the country to conduct beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations.

Heitkamp’s work to advance North Dakota’s UAS and border security priorities, including the Northern Plains Test Site, Grand Sky, and Grand Forks Air Force Base, include:  

• Introducing bipartisan legislation provide federal law enforcement authorities the ability to counter misuse of UAS that threatens national security. The Preventing Emerging Threats Act would provide leaders at DHS and DOJ the authorization they need to develop and use advanced UAS detection and interdiction technology to protect federal buildings and operations. The bill passed unanimously out of committee in June.        

• Securing long-term Northern Border UAS efforts at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Heitkamp pushed DHS to secure a long-term AMO presence at the Grand Forks Airforce Base, and in September 2017, DHS and Customs and Border protection heeded her call to maintain the their presence on the base.

• Promoting the strengths of Grand Sky business and aviation park. In February, Heitkamp toured Grand Sky — which conducts UAS flights in partnership with Northern Plains— to tout its role in diversifying local jobs, growing North Dakota’s economy, and strengthening U.S. national security efforts. During her tours of Northrop Grumman and General Atomics facilities, Heitkamp reinforced the critical role Northrop Grumman plays in advancing the Grand Forks Air Force Base’s Global Hawk mission – helping provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for global operations. She also stressed the need to build out UAS training efforts that General Atomics has spearheaded to support international counterterrorism efforts and U.S. Customs & Border Protection surveillance along the Northern Border.

• Boosting support for Grand Forks’ Global Hawk mission. Heitkamp pushed to secure funding and long-term support for the RQ-4 Global Hawks in the defense authorization bills signed into law in December 2017 and August 2018. In September 2017, Heitkamp met with Colonel Benjamin W. Spencer, Commander of the 319^th Air Base Wing at Grand Forks, to discuss efforts to strengthen the base’s role in protecting the United States’ national security, including pioneering new uses for UAS technology. And Heitkamp also welcomed General Lori J. Robinson, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) as she made a rare visit to see the base’s remotely piloted aircraft innovation up close.

• Removing barriers to UAS technology development and investments in North Dakota. Heitkamp successfully pressed then-FAA Administrator Michael Huerta on his agency’s efforts to improve the integration of UAS into the nation’s airspace, urging his agency in 2014 to avoid delays that could hinder the growth of the industry. Just three months later, the FAA heeded her call – announcing the UAS rule proposals she had asked for.

• Addressing the AMO pilot shortage. Last September, Heitkamp announced a new CBP AMO pilot training program at the University of North Dakota to help address a nationwide shortage of AMO pilots.

###