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Flight Design and Bland Shire have partnered to develop Australia’s “second drone range”, with Flight Design now managing three sites in central NSW to cater for a range of uncrewed aircraft and operating under Defence Aviation Safety Authority approval.
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Flight Design and Bland Shire have partnered to provide Australia’s drone operators with additional drone testing options, with Flight Design now managing three new drone operating sites around West Wyalong following successful environmental approvals.
Of the three sites, large winged long distance drones will be able to operate from the airport, while a 700 acre farm with radio capabilities will facilitate rotary blade vehicles and swarms. It is expected that a large lake with "20km x 10km range" will also be utilised as an additional drone testing site.
According to a release from Bland Shire Council, the range facilities are currently operational, with the range's inaugural customer working in the defence industry and operating under Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA) regulations.
The pair have confirmed that drone flights can also be launched from high altitude balloons at the three sites. However, an additional site under consideration near Canberra is unlikely to be able to facilitate high altitude balloon launches.
Flight Design has welcomed collaboration with other firms to support the development of uncrewed systems, and can support both CASA and DASA approvals.
Bland Shire hopes that the new drone testing facilities will make the region a Centre of Excellence for drone research for farm and business applications, with a number of locals working in drone range safety roles. In fact, the drone facility at West Wyalong has been designed to provide the tools and mechanical support needed for drone maintenance.
Currently, Flight Design specialises in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones that are designed to fly at 60,000 feet and above enemy sensors.
[Related: Elbit subsidiary AEL Sistemas completes radio flight tests onboard Brazilian Air Force F-5Ms]
