Skip to main content

Drones now flying at Nevada’s first official drone airport

aerodrome drone airport boulder city 2
Aerodrome
UAS flight training company Aerodrome is making progress on its plans to build an operational commercial drone airport in Boulder City, Nevada. Construction started last year on the 50-acre site, which will serve as a hub for commercial drone operation in the area and as a place to host the company’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) training services. Though there is still much work remaining, officials from Aerodrome did announce recently that the location is intermittently operational with drones already flying at the site.

On the 50-acre site, Aerodrome will offer maintenance, storage, and other functions available at typical airports. Instead of planes, this airport will cater to the needs of drones and their commercial operators. “The majority will be commercial and private business,” said Aerodrome president Jon Daniels when speaking to PSFK. “We can easily support the development of cargo services and other applications, and are talking with several companies about that very thing.”

The airport location was selected with this commercial operation in mind — it is located near Las Vegas, is in an area with a low tax burden, and offers dry and favorable weather suitable for drone operation. The facility is currently under construction with a phased development plan that allows the company to complete small sections at a time and operate on a limited basis out of those areas while the rest of the airport is being built. The full droneport with adjacent training facility is expected to take up to three years to complete.

Aerodrome is known in the UAS industries for its drone training courses that prepare individuals for careers as commercial drone pilots or technicians. The courses are designed to comply with FAA Section 333, which outlines the minimum requirements for the business operation of a drone in the United States. The company already operates a small training facility in Boulder City on a small 5-acre plot and will expand this service when the new airport is completed in the coming years.

Editors' Recommendations

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Drone pilots face hefty fine if they fly near the Super Bowl
DJI Mavic 2 Pro

Drone pilots have been warned to keep their flying machines well away from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, during Super Bowl 2022 or face a hefty fine of at least $30,000 and potential criminal prosecution. On top of that, drones spotted within the designated no-fly zone could be knocked out of the sky with “deadly force,” according to a flight advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

A temporary flight restriction will be in effect from 2:30 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. PT during the big game on Sunday, February 13. The flight ban covers a 30-nautical-mile radius of the stadium and extends 18,000 feet skyward.

Read more
Korean Air first carrier to use drone swarms for aircraft inspection
One of Korean Air's inspection drones.

Advancements in drone technology over recent years have encouraged an increasing number of airlines to utilize the flying machines for aircraft safety inspections.

However, in what’s thought to be an industry first, Korean Air has started using a swarm of drones for visual inspections in a process that dramatically cuts the time it takes to complete such a task.

Read more
New drone owner? Check out this video before you fly
dji mavic 2 pro zoom drone deals best buy summer sale 2020 2018 768x479 c

With drones once again expected to be a hot-ticket item over the holiday season, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a safety campaign urging new pilots to follow the rules and take care.

The effort includes a video (below) highlighting the basics and a “12 days of drones” social media campaign with posts featuring various drone-related safety rules.

Read more