State aviation officials watched live flights at Gorman Field as CVS Health, Kelly Hills Unmanned, SkyfireAI and Thales demonstrated medical logistics and agricultural applications on North Dakota’s statewide BVLOS network.
The Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) hosted live flight demonstrations on the Vantis UAS system on September 16, 2026. The flights took place at Gorman Field during the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) Annual Convention. State aviation leaders from across the country attended. Participating organizations included NPUASTS, CVS Health, SkyfireAI, Kelly Hills Unmanned and Thales.
The demonstrations covered two emerging beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) applications. One centered on drones delivering critical medical supplies. The other covered autonomous aircraft in agricultural operations. Kelly Hills Unmanned and Thales previously partnered on a TopSky agricultural drone network in Kansas.
“This demonstration gives state aviation officials an opportunity to see what BVLOS operations can look like when the aircraft, infrastructure, technology and operational expertise come together,” said Trevor Woods, executive director of NPUASTS. “North Dakota has built an ecosystem that allows companies and organizations to use these capabilities in a real-world environment. This shows how the ecosystem can support applications that have a meaningful impact on communities.”
CVS Air Response tests medical logistics on Vantis
CVS Air Response served as a key component of the demonstration. The CVS Health program develops UAS applications for medical logistics. The flights incorporated the CVS mobile pharmacy concept. They showed how BVLOS aircraft could move medical supplies while operating on Vantis.
“Unmanned aircraft can become a practical extension of the healthcare supply chain, helping to expand access to care,” said Josh Wright, manager at CVS Health. “The opportunity is about creating a reliable system that can safely connect people and resources when and where they’re needed. Demonstrations like this help us understand what it will take to make that vision a reality.”
Vantis infrastructure supports multiple aircraft types
The event highlighted Vantis capabilities in aircraft onboarding, connectivity and operational integration. The statewide infrastructure supports multiple types of advanced UAS aircraft and use cases.
“As BVLOS operations evolve, secure communications, situational awareness and scalable infrastructure are critical,” said Rob Geckle, chief executive of Thales North America. “Through its support of North Dakota’s Vantis program, Thales is providing the trusted technology platform, digital ecosystem and operational expertise needed to safely enable large-scale UAS operations and accelerate the integration of unmanned aircraft into the national airspace.”
NPUASTS is one of nine FAA-designated UAS test sites. It administers Vantis, North Dakota’s statewide BVLOS system, and provides regulatory expertise alongside research and commercialization support.
More information is available at Northern Plains UAS Test Site.
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Ian McNabb is a journalist focusing on drone technology and lifestyle content at Dronelife. He is based between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys hiking and Boston area sports.
