North Dakota(ND)

North Dakota continues to serve as the nation’s "Proving Ground" for uncrewed and autonomous aviation. As of January 2026, the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) have fully operationalized Vantis, the first-of-its-kind statewide network designed to support Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations at scale.

Infrastructure and Regulatory Framework

The cornerstone of North Dakota’s AAM strategy is the Vantis Network, a physical and digital infrastructure layer that provides command, control, and situational awareness for all low-altitude aircraft.

• Statewide Command and Control: Vantis uses a series of towers, radar, and radios—integrated by Thales—to allow pilots to fly safely without maintaining visual contact with the aircraft.
• UAS BEYOND Program: NDDOT was recently selected for the next phase of the federal BEYOND program, which focuses on the steps necessary to facilitate scalable and economically feasible BVLOS operations through 2029.
• Innovation Zones: The state has designated the Bakken Oil Fields and the Red River Valley as primary innovation zones, where AAM technology is being used to monitor critical energy infrastructure and agricultural health.

Pilot Programs and Manufacturer Support

North Dakota’s strategy is defined by "Repeatable and Scalable" commercial use cases.

• Energy and Ag-Tech: In early 2026, pilot programs are expanding to include autonomous drone-based inspections of thousands of miles of pipeline and high-tension power lines, significantly reducing the cost and risk of traditional ground-based or helicopter surveys.
• Medical Logistics: The Northern Plains UAS Test Site is currently testing the delivery of emergency medical kits to rural tribal communities, leveraging the Vantis network to ensure safety across hundreds of miles of sparsely populated territory.
• Manufacturer Integration: North Dakota provides a "turnkey" regulatory environment for OEMs, offering pre-validated flight corridors that drastically reduce the time required for companies to secure FAA flight approvals.

Strategic Initiatives and Resources

• Vantis: North Dakota’s UAS Network: vantisuas.com
• NDDOT Autonomous Systems: dot.nd.gov/autonomous
• Northern Plains UAS Test Site: npuasts.com