Battle Creek clears the runway for drones and autonomous flight

Editor’s note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave’s On the Ground Battle Creek series.

BATTLE CREEK, MI — Drones and autonomous aircraft could soon be flying longer distances over Battle Creek for real-world missions — from medical deliveries to public safety — after local leaders selected a company to build the digital “air traffic control” system needed to make those flights safe and legal.

In January, leadership with Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) announced that they had selected ResilienX, Inc., based in Syracuse, N.Y., to develop the ground-based sense and avoid system for MICH-AIR, the advanced air mobility (AAM) hub under development at the Battle Creek Executive Airport (BTL). This system will enable remote and autonomous aircraft to operate in Battle Creek and beyond, according to a press release from BCU.

“AAM includes remote and autonomous aircraft as well as next-generation aircraft like electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles,” says Robert Corder, Vice President of Attraction for BCU.

As far as how the technology will be used, he says it’s still early days for the AAM sector. 

“The industry is very much still in the research and development phase. While the military has used remote aircraft for decades now, we are only now starting to see real applications in the commercial space. Last year, Governor Whitmer launched the Michigan Advanced Air Mobility Initiative to build up the AAM sector in Michigan. Companies are still developing the technology which those next-generation vehicles will use, so it is hard to predict what businesses will come to Battle Creek.”

However, he says,  there are all kinds of applications, including in transportation, freight, last-mile delivery, medical delivery, public safety, drone-as-a-first responder, infrastructure inspection, and agriculture.

”There are going to be lots of new start-ups that get created in this space, as well as established companies that expand into AAM. The state is already piloting a medical delivery project in Traverse City. Amazon Prime is setting up drone delivery in Pontiac and Hazel Park,” Corder says. “Regarding MICH-AIR, we want the vehicles to be manufactured in Battle Creek. We want the vehicles to be maintained and repaired here. We want the operations to be here, whether that is cargo & freight, public safety & first responder applications, inspection & surveillance, agriculture, even urban air mobility. Battle Creek could also be a training site for companies to train operators.”

ResilienX is a leading provider of digital infrastructure for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. Under the agreement, the company will deliver an integrated physical and digital operating environment that will allow routine BVLOS operations across the Battle Creek region, says the press release. The multi-year effort establishes Battle Creek as one of the nation’s most advanced hubs for scalable uncrewed and advanced air mobility operations.

“The system that is being developed by ResilienX will enable remote and autonomous vehicles to operate beyond visual line of sight,” Corder says. “It is an integrated hardware/software solution, combining data from multiple sensors into a single dashboard. It will incorporate radar, ADS-B (which transmits airplane location data), and Remote ID (transmits drone location info).

The project will deploy a fully integrated BVLOS ecosystem combining cooperative and non-cooperative surveillance, digital airspace services, and aviation-grade safety assurance. Once operational, Corder says the MICH-AIR BVLOS environment will support a wide range of use cases, including public safety, infrastructure inspection, medical logistics, advanced manufacturing, and future defense and security missions.

“The BVLOS system is the infrastructure that will allow remote and autonomous vehicles to operate at BTL. This will help us attract new investment to the airport from companies looking to test, develop, and deploy remote or autonomous vehicles,” Corder says. “Battle Creek will be one of only a handful of communities in the country to be this kind of system, so it will really set us apart from other places. Once operational, the MICH-AIR BVLOS environment will support a wide range of use cases, including public safety, infrastructure inspection, medical logistics, and advanced manufacturing, as well as future defense and security missions.”

The BVLOS system is a key part of BCU’s MICH-AIR initiative, which seeks to attract aerospace investment and create high-skill jobs in Battle Creek, the press release says.

In 2018, BCU received a grant from the Michigan Defense Center, now known as the Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation, to determine Battle Creek’s capacity to support advanced air mobility (AAM), including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles as well as remote and autonomous aircraft. 

A feasibility study concluded that Battle Creek is well-positioned to attract investment from AAM companies, due to its airport, available capacity in the air and on the ground, existing company base, strategic location, and community assets.

In 2023, BCU secured a $7 million appropriation in the 2024 Michigan State Budget. The ‘Make it in Michigan’ budget also included $10 million for advanced aerial mobility/drone infrastructure projects, including vertiports, drone hubs, drone ports, and last-mile delivery.

“This project is about more than enabling drone flights,” says BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski. “It is about creating sustainable infrastructure that allows companies, agencies, and researchers to operate safely, at scale, and with confidence. Partnering with ResilienX accelerates our vision for MICH-AIR and strengthens Battle Creek’s role in the future of aviation.”

The system to be deployed in Battle Creek will be scalable across Michigan and beyond, the press release says. 

“It is designed to expand over time, supporting additional operators, new mission profiles, and integration with future state and national drone corridors. The BVLOS ecosystem establishes a critical differentiator for the region, enabling capabilities that few airports in the United States can offer today.”

Corder says the airport and Battle Creek in general are well-positioned to attract investment from AAM companies for several reasons:

• BTL is home to WMU’s College of Aviation, where they train pilots and airframe & propulsion mechanics. WMU recently added a certificate program for unmanned aerial systems.
• The Michigan Air National Guard’s 110th Wing is also based at BTL, where it has a remote drone operations mission flying MQ-9s.
• Duncan Aviation, one of the country’s leading maintenance/repair/overhaul providers, is located at the airport, where it employs more than 800 people.
• In addition, there are two aviation manufacturers with facilities at BTL: Waco Aircraft, which manufactures a reproduction biplane; and its sister company Junkers Aircraft, which is completing its new manufacturing facility, where they will make a reproduction 1930s sport plane.
• BTL has available capacity, both on the ground and in its related airspace. The airport has approximately 200 acres inside the airport fence available for development. The airport, which is among the busiest in the state, is well-maintained and has excellent facilities. 
• In addition, the airport is adjacent to the Fort Custer Industrial Park, which has nearly 90 companies, mostly in the manufacturing sector. DENSO, the Japanese Tier 1 auto parts manufacturer, which is the city’s largest private employer, is partnering with Honeywell to develop motors for the UAS industry.
• Finally, the city has a strong economic development organization in BCU with a demonstrated history of success.

“So Battle Creek has the workforce (pilots, mechanics, manufacturing) as well as the training resources,” Corder says. “We have land for development, a strong company base, and a supportive business environment. There are few communities anywhere that have what we have here in Battle Creek.”

Battle Creek is making a deliberate investment in infrastructure, not experiments,” says Andrew Carter, CEO of ResilienX.

“MICH-AIR is building a repeatable, standards-aligned BVLOS environment that supports real operations, real users, and long-term economic growth. This project reflects exactly how regions should approach advanced air mobility.”

Corder says BCU will be “casting a wide net” to companies to make them aware of MICH-AIR and what it has to offer. BCU is looking at companies within the United States, but is also reaching out to companies overseas. He says BCU’s mission is focused on attracting investment to Battle Creek and creating jobs, which has been successfully done for more than 50 years.

“All of the investment in the Fort Custer Industrial Park, all the jobs that the companies there have created, those are the direct result of BCU’s efforts. None of that was organic. It happened because the city purchased the property from the Department of Defense and wisely decided to create the industrial park and BCU,” Corder says. “We were lucky to have the right product at the right time, but the leadership back then was smart and targeted emerging markets overseas. BCU went out, met companies, developed relationships, promoted the industrial park, and brought those companies to Battle Creek. They went to places like Japan and Germany long before other communities.”

Over the years, the industrial park has grown to 3,000 acres, with approximately 500 acres still available for development. MICH-AIR is the continuation of that effort, and an opportunity to further diversify the Battle Creek economy. 

BCU is working with its partners at Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation as well as the 110^th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard, the City of Battle Creek, and Duncan Aviation.

”We are reaching out to the Battle Creek Police Department and Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office to talk about possible drone applications. We are also talking with the Michigan Drone Association and Michigan State Police,” Corder says. “We will also be looking to partner with other communities and airports to create corridors for unmanned aerial vehicles to operate between. Long term, we believe that we can grow this sector in Battle Creek and have it spread across the state.”

“All kinds of new technologies are being developed, and our goal is to bring that next generation of aviation to Battle Creek,” he says. “Jobs in the advanced air mobility space are high-skilled and high-paying, and a great fit for Battle Creek.”

In terms of employees, he says, “part of the goal is to build on what we have. We would like to create new job opportunities for drone pilots and sensor operators at the 110th who might be leaving the service. We would like to capture more grads from the College of Aviation. As the sector grows in Battle Creek, it should also help bring new people to the region.”