CCUVS Manages First Canadian UAS Airspace



By Priya Potapragada



The Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems has received permission to manage restricted airspace in Southeast Alberta that is being developed for flying unmanned aircraft.



This airspace will be the first Canadian area that will be used for UAS training, research and development for both civil and commercial industries. The space allows companies to fly beyond visual line of sight. Flight operations may begin at the end of 2014.



“This pioneering initiative will give Canadian and international UAS operators a unique location to safely train and develop UAS for BVLOS [beyond visual line of sight] flights in Canada,” says Roger Haessel, CCUVS’ CEO.



CCUVS has worked six years with the Village of Foremost, Alberta, to get the restricted airspace that is 750 square nautical miles and designated up to 18,000 feet above sea level.