FAA-Approved UAS Test Range for Agricultural UAS Field Day Announced

Heinen Brothers Agra Services, a leader in agricultural aerial applications and firefighting, has established a new subsidiary, Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems, focused on commercializing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in the agricultural sector.

The company has gained approval for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) UAS test range and will host a grand opening event on August 22, 2024.

Through a relationship with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, the FAA approved a nearly 49,000 square mile unmanned aerial systems test range that covers parts of four states and allows for advanced drone testing on systems that are not readily available to public users.

This privately managed test range will provide a unique opportunity for developers and manufacturers to evaluate system’s efficacy in a low-risk environment while helping these products reach commercialization faster through collaboration with key parties in the value chain.

The Kelly Hills FAA approved test range covers partial airspace in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. The range provides the ability to host fixed-wing, multirotor, and rotary-wing systems testing applications on ten different crops including corn, soybeans and milo.

Lukas Koch, Kelly Hills’ Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are excited to launch the Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems and the FAA UAS Test Range. Our goal is to become the epicenter for unmanned aerial systems in the agricultural space. Kansas has a long tradition and deep expertise in both aviation and agriculture. We seek relationships with those who want to capitalize on these assets and utilize a one-of-a-kind test range to move the agricultural industry forward.”

Customers, vendors, researchers, policymakers, agriculture industry leaders, enthusiasts, and all other key individuals are invited to Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems opening event at 1226 104th Road, Seneca, KS.

Koch added, “Unmanned aerial application in agriculture is accelerating faster in other countries than it is here in the United States. We invite American agriculture and international players to Kansas on August 22 for an opportunity to look over the horizon, glimpse into the future and learn more about climate-friendly precision agriculture and economically feasible agricultural unmanned aerial systems.”

The test range was approved through a relationship with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and offers elite private and shared hangar options for tenants.

“Heinen Brothers and Kelly Hills are true leaders and pioneers in the agricultural aviation sector,” Koch concluded. “The company has thirty years of experience with aerial applications. This test range has the potential to drive environmentally conscious innovation, improve safety of pilots, and change the economic dynamics for the American farmer.”

RSVP for the event is required on the Kelly Hills website or by emailing [email protected]

General registration is at 9:00, the program starts at 10:00, with flight tests beginning at 11:00, and lunch to follow.

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