Choctaw Nation UAS Test Site, uAvionix Launch FCC-Authorized Operations

Landmark approval permits BVLOS operations using C-band radio frequencies, which may soon be used solely for UAS.

Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 02:06 PM ET

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At the Choctaw Nation Emerging Aviation Technology Center, UAS take flight under uAvionix control. [Courtesy: uAvionix]

Key Takeaways:

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) and uAvionix have become the first to conduct FCC-approved Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations using C-band Command and Control (C2) technology.
This pioneering use of uAvionix's SkyLink C-Band C2 radios demonstrates significantly extended operational range and a dedicated, more reliable communication network for drones.
The initiative is a crucial step towards standardizing drone communications, especially given the FCC's proposal to reserve C-band frequencies (5030-5091 MHz) exclusively for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
CNO's FAA-designated test site is now open to businesses, aiming to accelerate the adoption of BVLOS operations by providing a protected environment that can facilitate FAA waiver approvals for various drone applications.

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On Native American territory in southeastern Oklahoma, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) stakeholders are charting the future of the industry.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) Beyond Program is one of eight FAA-designated sites dedicated to testing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations. This week CNO and its partner, uAvionix, launched FCC-approved BVLOS operations using uAvionix’s SkyLink C-Band Command and Control (C2) airborne radios.