Ohio Welcomes National Leader in Uncrewed Aviation Communications to Springfield
Buckeye State to Host AURA’s First Commercial Operations Purpose-Built for Autonomous Flight; Capabilities Will Help Empower Billions in Economic Activity
Springfield, Oh. and McLean, Va. (September 19, 2023) – The Ohio Department of Transportation’s FlyOhio initiative and AURA Network Systems – a national pioneer in advanced aviation command-and-control (C2) communications considered crucial to certified uncrewed aircraft operations – today jointly announced that AURA’s first commercial network operations purpose-built for autonomous flight will be based at Ohio’s Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport.
The announcement is part of Ohio’s focus on Advanced Air Mobility, or AAM, the industry term that includes futuristic aviation like flying taxis, autonomous cargo aircraft, and remotely piloted flights. Estimates are that it is also big business, with a recent white paper by the industry research firm NEXA Capital forecasting that an AAM-prepared Ohio could expect “a thriving new industry providing some $13 billion in economic activity between now and 2045, some $2.5 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue, and some 15,000 full time jobs.”
“Ohio is developing cutting-edge digital aviation infrastructure, and hosting AURA's network certainly reflects our leadership in next-generation advanced air mobility, including autonomous and remotely piloted aircraft," explained Richard Fox, director of Ohio’s Uncrewed Aircraft System Center, which leads the FlyOhio initiative.
“Look, everyone at AURA is very much aware of Ohio’s historic role in global aviation, so it's both humbling and exciting to be part of Ohio’s leadership in the future of global aviation,” said Bill Tolpegin, CEO of AURA Network Systems. “Unlocking the tremendous economic and social potential of AAM is really nothing short of a new era of human flight, and these public-private collaborations are vital to getting us into that next era.”
AURA Chief Network Officer Mike Gagne echoed Tolpegin’s sentiments. “We’ve installed our network infrastructure from coast to coast in the U.S., and it’s no coincidence that Springfield-Beckley is our first commercial site purpose-built for autonomous flight operations. It will empower urban air mobility (UAM) and regional air cargo flights between Cincinnati and Columbus, creating a powerful economic ripple effect among local businesses, like fiber optic services, construction contractors, electricians, and a whole host of logistics companies.”
Jeff Hoagland, President of the Dayton Development Coalition – a state-authorized member of FlyOhio’s coalition of AAM stakeholders – underscored the impact of AURA’s decision, noting the company’s network is unique in North America. “For the last decade, Ohio has worked to create an environment where Advanced Air Mobility innovators can test their capabilities and then grow their manufacturing operations. We’re proud to welcome AURA to the ‘Birthplace of Aviation,’ and we’re confident its redundant capabilities will attract an array of government and industry stakeholders to conduct both their flight testing and other operations at Springfield – especially those developing larger aircraft to fly at higher altitudes within the National Airspace System.”
Tom Franzen, Springfield’s Assistant City Manager and Director of Economic Development, also pointed to AURA’s network as an economic asset to the area. “Among the many features of AURA’s network are that it operates on unique, dedicated aviation spectrum which is crucial to reducing signal latency and to delivering ultra-reliable communications – including for C2 voice and data necessary for FlyOhio’s key objective to make Ohio airspace among the first in the nation ready to fly beyond visual line of sight.”
The FlyOhio/AURA news comes as Springfield hosts the annual National Advanced Air Mobility Industry Forum (NAAMIF), which brings together manufacturers and suppliers from across the global AAM industry for networking, panel discussions, and capability displays. This year, in addition, the NAAMIF is celebrating the ribbon-cutting of the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE), a center for innovation and collaboration in the AAM community.
Preeti Choudhary, executive director of ODOT's DriveOhio program, called the joint announcement an example of the state's role in fostering the advanced aviation industry. “This is a milestone for both AURA and the state of Ohio,” said Choudhary. “We are focused on advanced air mobility bringing together public and private partners to develop, test, and ultimately empower aircraft to fly long distances safely. Today’s announcement as part of our AAM Industry Forum not only moves us closer to that goal, but it also puts the AAM industry on notice that the state of Ohio and AURA are very much open for business.”
About AURA Network Systems
AURA is on a mission to deliver an FAA-compliant nationwide network utilizing unique, licensed aviation spectrum to accelerate advanced levels of autonomy in the National Airspace System. As a Command-and-Control Communication Service Provider (C2CSP), its vision is to empower the aerospace industry’s pioneering technology solutions that improve accessibility and safety, drive economic expansion, and further environmental sustainability – while transforming the concept of aviation for crewed and remotely piloted aircraft. AURA’s frequencies in the 450 MHz band have extraordinary propagation characteristics ideal for secure and reliable communications. The company’s technology increases the commercial viability of autonomous operations. See auranetworksystems.com for more information.
About FlyOhio
Led by the Ohio Department of Transportation’s UAS Center, FlyOhio is a coalition of stakeholders focused on advanced air mobility – including JobsOhio, the Dayton Development Coalition, Ohio Federal Research Network, and the City of Springfield. FlyOhio works with public, private, and academic partners to develop, test, and deploy the technology needed for drones to safely fly long distances without fear of collision, ultimately bringing the use of unmanned aircraft for freight, package, and personal transportation closer to reality.
AURA Media Contact: Michael Tucker
tucker@auranetworksystems.com
202.744.6116