AeroVironment (AV) and CAL Analytics have launched a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) airspace management facility at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport in Ohio to support operations for the US Air Force.
The facility, developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Ohio Department of Transportation, integrates AV_Halo COMMAND, AeroVironment’s modular command-and-control system with CAL Analytics’ Advanced Air Mobility enterprise platform.
Together, they provide operators with a real-time operational picture using Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground radar feeds, allowing safe BVLOS testing and operational missions.
By fusing multiple sensor feeds into a single system, AV_Halo delivers situational awareness, detect-and-avoid capability, and machine-speed decision support, enabling autonomous BVLOS operations that can scale statewide or nationwide.
Pending full FAA approval, it will allow real-time monitoring, evaluation of airspace safety technologies, and validation of BVLOS rules that can support economic development and new transport infrastructure.
Plans are already underway to link Springfield with Columbus, Ohio, and expand coverage to additional unmanned aerial systems (UAS) corridors.
AV chief executive officer Wahid Nawabi said that this latest installation “establishes the blueprint for how airports and states across the country can safely integrate uncrewed aircraft into existing airspace.”
US Expands Airspace Management
The launch of the Springfield‑Beckley BVLOS facility builds on broader US efforts to safely integrate unmanned aircraft into national airspace.
The FAA’s UAS Traffic Management (UTM) program has been developing frameworks for managing low‑altitude drone operations, including BVLOS missions, by coordinating traffic, sharing data, and ensuring operational safety.
In 2024, the US Air Force assessed a traffic management system as part of its plan to employ UAS for operations across active bases.
Industry participation is accelerating adoption. In 2025, Airspace Link received near-term approval process recognition from the FAA for its strategic deconfliction services, demonstrating how operational UTM solutions are being validated and deployed nationwide.
