New hangar for drone cargo tests in Alaska
Nenana airport is set to be home to a new 4,800 sqft hangar for the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (Acuasi). The hangar will serve as a base for drone cargo test flights between the city of Fairbanks and the city of Nenana (population around 400), around 90 km to the west.
The University of Alaska’s board of regents has approved funds of USD 3.3 million for the hangar. Acuasi is a part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute.
Acuasi already uses city-owned Nenana airport regularly for test flights and wants the city to become a part of an interior drone testing hub. The airport doesn’t have any hangars available.
Construction is expected to begin in June and be complete in early autumn. The university will lease land from the city. Federal Covid relief funds will pay for the project. (cj)