GA-ASI RSG's Blue talks training facility in Grand Sky North Dakota

Grand Sky UAS Park Opens for Development in North Dakota

New Hoeven Working to Bring High-Tech Leader General Atomics to Grand Forks

Hoeven Working to Bring High-Tech Leader General Atomics to Grand Forks - News Releases - Press Office - United States Senator John Hoeven for North Dakota

Senator Hoeven and Linden P. Blue, president of Reconnaissance Systems Group at GA Aeronautical Systems, Inc., discussed the possibility of establish a training academy in Grand Forks. GA is the maker of the Predator series UAS and is exploring plans to train more pilots in UAS operations. Grand Forks, home to the University of North Dakota and Grand Sky, unmanned aircraft systems-focused business park, would be an ideal site to locate a training program, Hoeven told company officials. Hoeven offered to host him and other GA officials in Grand Forks for a review of the Grand Sky location and meetings with local leaders.

Grand Sky, a 217-acre business and aviation park focused on developing and nurturing the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry in North Dakota and the U.S, and America’s first such park, has begun to take applications for build-to-suit site tenancy. The U.S. Air Force, Grand Forks County and Grand Sky Development Company have commemorated the execution of an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) during a ceremony at Grand Forks Air Force Base, therefore officially marking the commencement of the park’s development.

Grand Sky is a lease of Air Force property for a period of 50 years. Grand Forks County “owns” the lease on the property with the Air Force. The county awarded a sublease to Grand Sky Development Company for the purpose of developing the project. According to project organizers, this community-led collaboration is a new approach to creating and executing EUL projects. “Grand Sky will be the first commercial drone airport in the U.S.,” says Thomas Swoyer, Jr., President of Grand Sky Development Company. “This unprecedented public/private venture between the Air Force, County and the private sector will allow government and private firms to have a home base as they fly their drones in North Dakota and around the country.”
- See more at: http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2015/02/grand-sky-uas-park-opens-development-north-dakota/#sthash.cUCLAw9o.dpuf

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