The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Emerging Aviation Technology Center (EATC) on October 24. Located near Redden, Oklahoma, the facility will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research, development, testing, and evaluation for crewed and uncrewed aerial system technologies.
With a design spanning three stories and covering 6,387 square feet, the EATC will house various essential components. These include office space, telemetry rooms, workrooms for training and development, drone maintenance and mechanical repairs, conference lounge, an observation deck and more.
Funded by Economic Development Administration (EDA) and U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants, the EATC is situated on 44,000 acres of remote reservation land owned by CNO.
The EATC’s strategic location provides the setting for the exploration of innovative aerial systems, supporting research and development efforts. The facility will enable industry experts to safely collaborate and push the boundaries of aviation technology in a controlled and secure environment.
City, state and federal officials, including Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, OAC State Director of Aeronautics Grayson Ardies, and members of the Federal Aviation Administration as well as industry and regional university partners joined in celebrating the event.
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