Government funding for Foremost drone testing range
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FOREMOST – It’s 2,400 sq. km of airspace available to companies looking to test their drone system. And it’s taking a leap forward thanks to federal and provincial investment.
Ottawa has announced $225,000 in funding from the Western Diversification Program for the Foremost Unmanned Air Systems Range. The money is being put towards a safety system that will allow the testing of drones beyond visual line of sight.
The provincial government is putting in $300,000, while Palliser Economic Partnership is contributing $35,000 and the Village of Foremost $30,000. The location is one of only two in the country to have Transport Canada certification to operate drones beyond line of sight.
“Most companies are from Alberta, but we’ve had interest from the U.S. and Europe,” general manager Doug Hanna said. “We’ve had companies fly from Ontario and one company from the U.S. so far, and we’re just getting started now, so we expect that to continue and broaden.”
