The future of rural aviation took flight last week as iSight Drone Services, in collaboration with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) and Vantis, North Dakota’s statewide BVLOS system, successfully completed a groundbreaking beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone delivery of medical supplies more than 80 miles of western North Dakota prairie from Williston to Watford City. […]
North Dakota
North Dakota Airports See 10% Growth in Passenger Boardings in First Half of 2025
The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) has released its monthly report detailing airline passenger traffic at the state’s eight commercial service airports. Air travel demand in North Dakota remains strong in 2025, as both residents and visitors increasingly take advantage of the air service options available across the state. During the first six months of […]
Vantis Expands in Grand Forks: NPUASTS, UND Aerospace Foundation Advance Technology-Agnostic UAS Integration
The Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS), in collaboration with the University of North Dakota’s Aerospace Foundation (UNDAF), has announced the continued expansion of Vantis, as the system inputs data from a privately owned system for the first time. This latest development marks the integration of the DeTect HARRIER radar system at UND’s Gorman Field. […]
FAA Awards More than $31 Million to North Dakota Airports
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $31,255,696 through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed to the following: The FAA AIP provides funding to airports nationwide for planning, capital, and safety enhancement projects.
Cirrus Invests $13M to Expand Grand Forks Manufacturing Facility
Cirrus announced the expansion of its Grand Forks manufacturing facility during a groundbreaking event. Cirrus will invest $13 million to add 30,000 square feet to the current 165,000 square foot manufacturing facility. The expansion will support Cirrus aircraft manufacturing the best-selling single-engine piston aircraft, the SR Series and the best-selling jet, the Vision Jet, with […]
FAA Awards Nearly $3.5 Million to North Dakota Airports
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $3,493,701 through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed as follows: $585,000 to Watford City Municipal Airport Authority to construct a new 2,700 square foot snow removal equipment building […]
UND Frozen Force Wins Intercollegiate Air Race Classic
Photo above – The 2025 Frozen Force Team includes Helena Lind, pilot; Charlotte Fuller, co-pilot; Caroline Kelley, navigator; and Aubrey Baril, ground coordinator. The team is coached by Katia Peters and Antonia Wagener. For the first time, the UND Frozen Force flying team has won the Intercollegiate Air Race Classic, an annual, multi-stop competition for […]
Growth Trend Continues at North Dakota’s Airports
The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) has released its monthly report detailing airline passenger traffic at the state’s eight commercial service airports. In May 2025, North Dakota’s airports recorded 107,560 passenger boardings, setting a new all-time record for the month of May. This figure surpasses the previous May record of 103,068 set in 2024, representing […]
$81.6 Million Awarded for Airport Infrastructure Grants in North Dakota
Photo above – The ND Aeronautics Commission held its annual public grant meeting on June 5th in the Bismarck Airport commercial terminal. Pictured above are members of the Aeronautics Commission, staff members, and commercial service airport managers who were in attendance at the meeting. The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission has finalized and approved $81.6 million […]
Kim Kenville Joins ADK as Senior Consultant
ADK Consulting & Executive Search has announced the addition of Kim Kenville, Ph.D., C.M., to their team as Senior Consultant. Ms. Kenville has more than 30 years of experience in airport management, aviation education, research, and consulting, and was a professor at the University of North Dakota (UND), where she led the airport management curriculum […]
