Foremost acquires CCUVs

FOREMOST – Last week, Foremost announced that it has acquired the brand and assets for the Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS) and will be relocating these operations from Medicine Hat to Foremost, Alberta. This move took place April 1, 2015 and is part of a strategic evolution for CCUVS as Foremost now concentrates on managing an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) training and development range out of the Foremost Municipal Airport.
In 2014, the Village of Foremost and CCUVS announced that they had received the necessary approvals to manage a 2400 km2 parcel of restricted airspace in Southeast Alberta for the purpose of flying UAS. This airspace is ideal for Beyond Visual Line of Sight UAS training, research and development for civil and commercial purposes.
The Village of Foremost will take on the role of managing CCUVS and the airspace. “This is a tremendous opportunity as we prepare to welcome global aerospace companies and research institutions to our community. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to diversify our rural economy and create opportunity for our citizens,” said Foremost Mayor Ken Kultgen.
“UAS technology will likely transform certain parts of the Canadian economy but industry needs Foremost’s restricted airspace to safely develop next generation applications,” said Spencer Fraser CCUVS outgoing Chairman of the Board. “This exciting announcement is only the beginning as Foremost will be working closely with our community partners on additional UAS-related economic development projects.”
The Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS) was created in 2007 as a not-for-profit organization to support growth of the unmanned systems sector in Canada. CCUVS delivers Canada’s top UAS ground school with over 600 operators trained.
This evolution to Foremost affords the opportunity to continue the work previously done and provide access to development and training of UAS– that of non-military training and development “beyond line of sight”.