The head of the Federal Aviation Administration will visit Grand Forks April 21, Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., announced Wednesday.
Michael Huerta will review activities surrounding the development of the area’s unmanned aircraft systems industry while he’s here, they said.
Grand Forks was named one of six test sites across the country to develop policies and procedures for integrating the unmanned aircraft into airspace used by manned aircraft. The FAA is the agency overseeing that process.
“We look forward to hosting Administrator Huerta in Grand Forks to see firsthand the outstanding work our state is doing to build the UAS industry and to integrate these aircraft into our airspace,” the senators said in a statement.
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Huerta will also visit Williston that same day to observe the Oil Patch’s need for airport improvements. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will also visit Casselton, N.D., the site of a crude oil train explosion late last year, on April 24.
