GRAND FORKS, ND – Vantis, North Dakota’s beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) system, has reached another major milestone with the onboarding of Frontier Precision as its second champion operator. Frontier Precision has secured a new FAA waiver for BVLOS operations, expanding their operational capabilities available through the Vantis service volumes.
The waiver is fully aircraft‑agnostic for systems under 55 pounds, allowing Frontier Precision to operate any NDAA-compliant aircraft within the four established Vantis volumes, more than 5,000 square miles of managed airspace. This flexibility marks a shift away from traditional waivers tied to a single platform and demonstrates the strength of the Vantis safety case.
“This waiver is another strong example of what Vantis was built to do, to help operators move beyond limited visual line of sight operations and into scalable, real-world BVLOS missions,” said Hunter Hegel, Operations Manager at Northern Plains UAS Test Site. “By combining advanced surveillance, real-time situational awareness, and regulatory expertise, Vantis is helping operators unlock the next generation of unmanned operations faster and more safely.”
“The waiver also reflects the maturity of the Vantis system and the work we’ve done with our champion operators,” Hegel added. “By using Vantis infrastructure, we’ve reduced approval timelines from years to just 23 business days.”
“Efficiency is the name of the game. To truly unlock the potential of ‘big data’ in sectors like oil and gas, utilities, and agriculture, we must move beyond the limitations of visual line of sight,” said Collin Kemmesat, Regional Sales Manager at Frontier Precision. “This waiver allows us to push the boundaries of what’s possible, providing our customers with real-world data and more efficient inspection and system capabilities.”
The partnership between Vantis and Frontier Precision will continue to expand network capabilities. Upcoming efforts include onboarding Group 3 VTOL aircraft, up to 1,320 pounds, for long‑endurance missions, and advancing emerging applications such as autonomous swarm operations for agriculture.
These capabilities will be on full display during Vantis Fly Day on May 28 at Gorman Field, where attendees can see the system in action. The event will feature live BVLOS demonstrations, NDAA‑compliant aircraft, sensors, and Frontier Precision’s mobile command trailer, offering a direct look at how Vantis enables safe, repeatable BVLOS operations.
Please RSVP for Fly Day here. For more information about the Vantis system visit the Northern Plains UAS Test Site or Vantis LinkedIn pages.
About Vantis
Vantis is North Dakota’s statewide unmanned aircraft system (UAS) beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) system, the first of its kind in the nation. Created by North Dakota with an initial investment in 2019, Vantis provides turnkey support to commercial and public UAS operators through infrastructure and regulatory approvals allowing applications and usability over a variety of industries. Visit VantisUAS.com for more information.
About the Northern Plains UAS Test Site
As one of nine FAA-designated UAS Test Sites, the NPUASTS is committed to leading the nation in autonomous technology solutions. Our mission is to innovate, test, and advance these technologies, bringing tangible benefits to communities nationwide. Through high-quality research, commercialization of UAS technologies, and active participation in policy and standards development, the NPUASTS is at the forefront of integrating UAS into the National Airspace System. Visit npuasts.com for more information.
About Frontier Precision
Frontier Precision is an employee-owned company and a leader in high-technology surveying, mapping, and UAS solutions. With over 38 years of experience, they provide sales, support, and operational expertise across the United States. Visit frontierprecision.com for more information.