Pendleton, Oregon is building out its drone test range
Drones, UAVs, need test ranges where they can legally fly and be put through their paces. The city of Pendleton, Oregon is making a large investment to build out one of these drone test ranges in order to be prepared to grab a piece of what will be a more than $13 billion market by 2017. Read the article which was originally published in the Portland Business Journal.
“Business Oregon, the state’s economic development arm, is funding the bulk of the second phase of the build-out of Pendleton’s drone test range.
The state is kicking in $1.6 million in grants and loans to the city of Pendleton as part of the $1.8 million project. The second phase includes plans to build four to six box hangers with work space and secure storage, communications infrastructure and security fencing.
The test range was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2013. Oregon is one of 13 states with the designation which allows companies developing commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, or drones, to fly in the airspace. Oregon has three ranges. In addition to Pendleton, there are sites in Tillamook and on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation.”
