Battle Creek Builds BVLOS Backbone for Drone Flights

Battle Creek, Michigan is quietly laying the groundwork to become one of the most advanced drone and autonomous aviation hubs in the United States, as Second Wave Media reports.

The city is not focused on flashy demos or short term pilots. Instead, it is investing in the digital infrastructure required to make long distance drone operations safe, legal, and scalable.

Local leaders recently selected ResilienX to build a ground based detect and avoid system at Battle Creek Executive Airport.

This system functions as a kind of digital air traffic control for drones and autonomous aircraft, allowing them to fly beyond visual line of sight in real world missions like medical delivery, public safety, and infrastructure inspection.

For the drone industry, this is the kind of behind the scenes development that actually unlocks growth.

A Digital Airspace Built for BVLOS

Battle Creek Unlimited announced in January that it had chosen ResilienX, a company based in Syracuse, New York, to develop the BVLOS infrastructure for its MICH AIR advanced air mobility hub. The system will be installed at Battle Creek Executive Airport and will support remote and autonomous aircraft operations across the region.

The platform combines multiple data sources into a single operational picture. It integrates radar, ADS-B aircraft tracking, and Remote ID signals from drones. Together, these inputs allow operators and regulators to see both cooperative aircraft that broadcast their position and non cooperative traffic that does not.

This integrated hardware and software approach is designed to meet aviation grade safety standards.

It enables drones to operate far beyond the pilot’s visual range while maintaining separation from crewed aircraft. That capability is essential for routine commercial missions rather than one off test flights.

ResilienX says the system is designed to scale. Over time, it can support more operators, new mission types, and future drone corridors that extend beyond Battle Creek into other parts of Michigan.

Battle Creek is perfect for Transportation Drones

Battle Creek is not starting from zero. The airport already supports one of the strongest aviation ecosystems in the region.

Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation is located at the airport, training pilots and aircraft mechanics. The school has also added an unmanned aircraft systems certificate program.

The Michigan Air National Guard’s 110th Wing operates MQ-9 remote aircraft from the same field, giving the area deep experience in drone operations.

Duncan Aviation, one of the largest maintenance and overhaul providers in the country, employs more than 800 people at the airport. Two aircraft manufacturers also operate there, including Waco Aircraft and Junkers Aircraft.

The airport itself has room to grow. About 200 acres inside the fence are available for development, and the surrounding airspace has capacity for advanced operations.

Just next door, the Fort Custer Industrial Park hosts nearly 90 companies, many in advanced manufacturing. DENSO is already working with Honeywell on motors for the unmanned aircraft industry.

State support has followed. Battle Creek secured funding through Michigan’s advanced air mobility initiatives, including millions allocated for drone infrastructure, hubs, and vertiports.

From Experiments to Real Operations

Local leaders are clear that this effort is not about experimentation. The goal is to create an environment where companies can test, deploy, maintain, and manufacture aircraft in one place.

Potential use cases include medical logistics, first responder drones, infrastructure inspection, agriculture, and defense related missions. There is also a strong push to attract companies that want to train operators and technicians locally.

Battle Creek Unlimited is already reaching out to domestic and international companies, as well as public safety agencies and state level drone organizations. The long term vision includes connecting multiple communities through drone corridors that allow routine BVLOS flights across the state.

This approach mirrors how successful aviation hubs were built in the past. Invest early in infrastructure, attract emerging industries, and create a workforce pipeline that supports long term growth.

DroneXL’s Take

This is the kind of drone story that matters. No flashy delivery videos, no speculative timelines, no marketing gloss. Battle Creek is doing the hard work of building BVLOS infrastructure that regulators, operators, and serious companies actually need. If more regions followed this model, long range commercial drone operations would move out of the future tense much faster.

Photo credit: John Grap, General Atomics, Western Michigan University and Battle Creek Unlimited.