– AeroVironment, Inc. (AV), a global defence technology company delivering software-enabled autonomous systems, and CAL Analytics, an innovator in advanced airspace management technologies, announced the completed installation and initial operation of a new Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) airspace management facility at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport in Springfield, Ohio.
Originally developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the project now features an upgraded installation integrating AV_Halo COMMAND—AV’s modular command and control (C2) architecture—with CAL Analytics’ Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) enterprise platform. Together, the systems establish a premier test and operational environment where Department of Defense operators can safely conduct BVLOS missions in shared airspace using existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground-radar feeds.
“This installation establishes the blueprint for how airports and states across the country can safely integrate unmanned aircraft into existing airspace,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of AV. “As the FAA defines the future of BVLOS rulemaking, this facility provides real-world operational data, safety validation, and an interoperability framework regulators need. Pending FAA approval, it will serve as an operational and scalable model for nationwide deployment.”
The integration supports flight testing, evaluation, and daily operations by routing AFRL’s access to FAA ground radar through AV_Halo COMMAND. The system fuses multiple sensor inputs into a single, secure operating picture, providing continuous situational awareness for BVLOS mission planning and airspace safety.
When combined with CAL Analytics’ AAM platform, the solution unifies radar and detect-and-avoid capabilities into a real-time airspace view, enabling extended autonomous BVLOS operations with greater precision and confidence.
Pending full FAA approval, the facility will support local missions and UAS monitoring as AFRL, ODOT, the FAA, AV, and CAL Analytics collaborate to validate airspace safety technologies, advance air mobility corridors, and shape national BVLOS standards. Plans are underway to expand the system to support corridors between Springfield and Columbus, Ohio, and additional sites nationwide.
Photo: The project features an upgraded installation that integrates AV_Halo™ COMMAND, AV’s command and control (C2) architecture, with CAL Analytics’ Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) enterprise platform to establish the nation’s premiere test environment and management facility, where Department of War operators can safely conduct BVLOS missions in shared airspace utilizing existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground radar feeds.
Source: AeroVironment