The Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS) has announced that NAV CANADA has published a permanent area of restricted airspace that covers 700 square nautical miles (2400 km2) up to 18,000 feet above sea level in Southeast Alberta for the purpose of flying Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).This restricted airspace designation is the first of its kind in North America that is available for Beyond Visual Line of Sight UAS training, research and development for civil and commercial purposes. The designation and publishing of the restricted airspace on Canadian aeronautical charts is an important milestone for the Foremost UAS Range that is expected to be ready for UAS flights in early 2015.
The airspace will be managed by the CCUVS and will be activated through the use of Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by NAV CANADA.
The restricted airspace results from more than six years work by CCUVS and an investment of over one million dollars by CCUVS in partnership the Village of Foremost, Alberta.
“This parcel of restricted airspace will give Canadian and international UAS operators a unique location to safely train and develop UAS for flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight. The ability to fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight will open up significant economic opportunities in Canada,” said Roger Haessel, Chief Executive Officer, CCUVS.
The Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS) is a federally registered not for profit company (2007), located in Medicine Hat, AB whose purpose is to facilitate sustained, profitable growth in the Canadian civil and commercial unmanned systems sector. CCUVS is governed by a Board of Directors, drawn from across Canada, representing academia, industry and government and working primarily in the air unmanned systems environments. Head office staff members are based in Medicine Hat, Alberta.