WILLISTON – The Northern Plains UAS Test Site will conduct demonstration flights with Volansi’s VOLY C10 in Williston today in the hangar of the former Sloulin Field International Airport, now Williston Square.

The demonstration will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, weather permitting. This flight demonstration will be the first time NPUASTS has flown the VOLY C10 in North Dakota.

NPUASTS is administering the development of Vantis, North Dakota’s statewide unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) network. Vantis will enable UAS, or drone, flights beyond visual line of sight in McKenzie and Williams counties, with additional locations to cover the entire state once the key site is validated. Part of that validation includes extensive testing of the network. Earlier this year, the VOLY C10 was selected through a competitive RFP to be the UAS used to complete that testing and validation.

Initial flights in the McKenzie and Williams counties area will test installed network components, perform use-case development flights, ensure network safety and reliability and help NPUASTS set the standard requirements for any aircraft seeking to fly on Vantis. Once validated, Vantis will be open for commercial flights beyond visual line of sight.