North Dakota Granted Access to FAA Drone Data
The state is the first non-federal agency to receive access to this valuable information.
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – North Dakota has officially become the first state in the nation to receive live drone data from the FAA.
The state is the first non-federal entity to have this level of access.
It will allow the Vantis network to carry out more operations that are beyond the visual line of sight – meaning, because drone operators can see everything on the radar, they don’t have to keep eyes directly on the aircraft itself.
State officials say this opens up huge possibilities in sectors like public health.
“After severe weather events, we have to go out and survey our tower sites,” explained Craig Felchle, Chief Technology Officer for the state of North Dakota.
“In the future, we could actually send out drones to inspect some of those sites without having to put boots on the ground. That would allow us to see it from a remote location, we wouldn’t have to put people in harm’s way, and we could get out there earlier and faster than we do today,” he said.
It’s believed that if the program is successful in doing things like helping with search and rescue missions and delivering key supplies to rural areas, other states will seek to follow in North Dakota’s footsteps.
