FAA

First Test In Drone Integration Pilot Program Conducted In Fargo

The Pilot Program Will help the FAA create new regulations

FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota’s UAS Integration Pilot Program completes its first test in Fargo. The North Dakota Department of Transportation and Northern Plains UAS Test Site performed its first series of flight tests of drones for potential flight over a group of people in a controlled airspace. This pilot program is designed to help the FAA create new regulations…

Large UAS Allowed To Fly Without Chase Plane At Grand Sky

The two-year FAA authorization allows the drone flights within 30 miles of the technology park

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The FAA has approved the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks to fly large unmanned aircraft systems beyond visual line of sight without a chase plane, a major milestone in the test site’s history. The two-year FAA authorization allows the drone flights within 30 miles of the technology park. U.S. Secretary of the Air…

Second Plane Crash In As Many Days Near Alexandria Turns Deadly

64-year-old Kenneth Ryan, who was flying alone, died in the crash

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — An Alexandria, Minnesota man has died after his plane crashed Saturday evening near the city. It was the second crash in the area in two days. According to the Douglas County sheriff’s office, several people called 911 around 7 p.m. reporting a plane had crashed at Townhall Road and 10th Avenue Southwest in LaGrand Township. Medical personnel…

Airport Disaster Exercise Planned For Tuesday At Hector International

Training Also Planned at Mark Andrews International Airport in Grand Forks

FARGO, N.D. — Sirens will be blaring and lights will be flashing at Hector International Airport Tuesday morning but do not worry, it’s just a drill. A full-scale airport disaster exercise will be held beginning at 9 a.m. It’ll be similar to one held back in 2015. The exercise is conducted every three years to meet FAA requirements. It provides…

Small Plane Slides Off Runway At Hector International Airport

No One Was Hurt

FARGO, N.D. — A small plane had a mechanical problem while landing at Hector International Airport in Fargo. The single engine Piper Comanche slid off the runway around 5:30 Wednesday evening. No one was hurt. The plane was hauled to an aircraft maintenance company at the airport where FAA flight inspectors will work to determine why the landing gear failed….

Witnesses Say Plane Circled Around Church Before Crashing in Eden Prairie

The pilot has not been identified and there was no one else on board

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The pilot of a small engine plane has died after crashing in the parking lot of a church in Eden Prairie. The crash happened at about 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Resurrection Life Church. Police say the plane took off from the Flying Cloud Airport, but soon contacted airport officials. “We did hear information from the…

Sanford AirMed Helicopter and Drone Nearly Collide

They say the drone was flying well above the 400 foot ceiling allowed by federal rules

  SIOUX FALLS, SD — The medical crew on board a Sanford AirMed helicopter says a drone nearly hit them while they were transporting a patient over central Sioux Falls. The medical crew says they were flying at about 700 feet when they spotted the drone only about 50 feet away from them. They say the drone was flying above…

NTSB: Unknown Why Breckenridge Pilot Wanted to Divert to Moorhead Airport

His plane hit the light pole while attempting to land at the Moorhead airport

  MOORHEAD, Minn. — An initial report from federal investigators says the crash that killed a Breckenridge farmer and pilot happened when his vintage plane struck a light pole near the weigh station. The NTSB says Mark Yaggie had taken off from Hector International Airport and was headed to the Pelican Rapids airport. Shortly after takeoff, Yaggie told an air…

Pilot Airlifted To Fargo After Crash

The Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office received a 9-1-1 call reporting a plane crash near the Mahnomen Airport.

MAHNOMEN – A pilot was airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo Tuesday night after his plane crashed south of Mahnomen. Sheriff Doug Krier says the plane went down in a field near the Mahnomen airport around 8 p.m. Two MN-DOT employees traveling on Highway 59 saw the plane crash and pulled the pilot from the wreck. The man’s name…

North Dakota Drones Can Now Fly “Out of Sight”

North Dakota becomes the first state to operate drones that go out of sight.

North Dakota becomes the first state to operate drones that go out of sight. Senator John Hoeven says the FAA has approved the Northern Plains Test site to use aircrafts that go beyond the visibility of the operator. Senator Hoeven has been working to secure this request that widens the opportunity to test and evaluate different locations. He says this…