Northern Plains UAS Test Site to Showcase Future of BVLOS Medical, Agricultural UAS Operations on Vantis at NASAO Conference

State aviation leaders from across the country will get a firsthand look today at the future of beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) unmanned aircraft operations. The Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) and its partners are scheduled to host live flight demonstrations on the Vantis UAS system at Gorman Field during the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) Annual Convention.

The demonstration showcases how Vantis can support advanced UAS operations while highlighting real-world applications in medical logistics and agriculture. Participating organizations include NPUASTS and its Vantis system, CVS Health, SkyfireAI, Kelly Hills Unmanned and Thales.

The flights highlight two emerging applications for BVLOS operations: the use of drones to support the delivery of critical medical supplies and autonomous aircraft in agricultural operations. Together, they illustrate how UAS technology, communications infrastructure and industry partnerships can work together to move advanced drone operations toward practical, scalable use.

„This demonstration gives state aviation officials an opportunity to see what BVLOS operations can look like when the aircraft, infrastructure, technology and operational expertise come together,“ said Trevor Woods, NPUASTS Executive Director. „North Dakota has built an ecosystem that allows companies and organizations to use these capabilities in a real-world environment. This shows how the ecosystem can support applications that have a meaningful impact on communities.“

A key component of the demonstration will be CVS Air Response, a CVS Health program, which is developing UAS applications for medical logistics. The flights incorporate CVS’s mobile pharmacy concept, demonstrating how BVLOS aircraft could support the movement of medical supplies while operating on Vantis.

„Unmanned aircraft can become a practical extension of the healthcare supply chain, helping to expand access to care,“ said Josh Wright, Manager, CVS Health. „The opportunity is about creating a reliable system that can safely connect people and resources when and where they’re needed. Demonstrations like this help us understand what it will take to make that vision a reality.“

The event highlights first-of-its-kind Vantis system in supporting BVLOS operations, with aircraft onboarding, connectivity and operational integration. The statewide infrastructure can support multiple types of advanced UAS aircraft and use cases.

“As BVLOS operations evolve, secure communications, situational awareness and scalable infrastructure are critical,“ said Rob Geckle, CEO, Thales North America. „Through its support of North Dakota’s Vantis program, Thales is providing the trusted technology platform, digital ecosystem and operational expertise needed to safely enable large-scale UAS operations and accelerate the integration of unmanned aircraft into the national airspace.“

For the state aviation officials attending NASAO, the event offers an opportunity to see firsthand how emerging UAS technologies are applied to real-world challenges.

About the Northern Plains UAS Test Site

As one of nine FAA-designated UAS Test Sites, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site is committed to advancing autonomous technology solutions. NPUASTS enables high-quality research and the commercialization of UAS technologies while providing specialized regulatory expertise. The organization also administers Vantis, North Dakota’s statewide system supporting safe, scalable beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations. Together, these efforts help safely integrate UAS into the National Airspace System and deliver tangible benefits to communities nationwide.

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