Integration with Airspace Link Provides UAS Pilots with Automated Approval to Fly in Controlled Airspace

REDLANDS, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — March 19, 2021 — Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today released a new integration in its Site Scan for ArcGIS flight planner with business partner Airspace Link, Inc., the leading North American provider of federal, state, and local government drone flight planning, authorization, and management solutions.

The integration makes it possible for users to have insights into critical information relevant to the areas of their drone operations such as controlled airspace, special events, and no-fly-zones. This provides drone pilots with better situational awareness when planning automated drone flights. If a flight plan intersects with controlled airspace, users can submit a request to the FAA within the Site Scan flight planner application by leveraging Airspace Link’s Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) authorization capability. This technological collaboration enables the FAA and industry organizations to safely integrate small drones into the US airspace.

“We’ve worked diligently to create authoritative products that make viewing and requesting airspace access simple,” said Michael Healander, CEO and co-founder of Airspace Link. “The new Site Scan integration that Esri built in partnership with us allows their drone pilot users to receive a broader operational awareness prior to take-off.”

Airspace Link is leveraging Esri’s ArcGIS Platform, the company’s platform as a service to manage the nation’s airspace data geospatially and deliver it to users. This up-to-date information is critical for commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) users to know whether a flight requires a waiver from the FAA or is within a temporary flight restriction area.

“It is key that we provide our users with all the information necessary to fly UAS in the national airspace safely and legally,” said Richard Cooke, Esri director of imagery and remote sensing. “With this integration, they can now benefit from Site Scan’s best-in-class automated drone flight planning in controlled airspace around the US, while taking advantage of Airspace Link’s FAA-sanctioned authorization capabilities.”

This new integration is available today in the latest update of Site Scan for ArcGIS Flight Planning App available for iPads in the Apple App Store.

Learn more about Site Scan for ArcGIS here, download the latest flight planning application for iPad here, and learn about Airspace Link’s AirHub for pilots here.

About Airspace Link, Inc

Airspace Link, Inc. is an FAA Approved UAS Service Supplier (USS) of the Low Altitude Authorization & Notification Capability (LAANC). A cloud-based platform founded by Detroit, Michigan based founder Michael Healander. Airspace Link's low-altitude drone infrastructure is deployed to local communities and airports to support the safe use of recreational and commercial drone use in the region. These capabilities provide a new type of Smart City mobility infrastructure supporting the growth of drone operations, drone service providers, drone manufactures, package delivery, and air taxi in the future. Airspace Link’s world headquarters is located at 1250 Library Street, Suite 61, Detroit, MI 48226. Visit airspacelink.com.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations globally and in over 200,000 institutions in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com.

Copyright © 2021 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, ArcGIS, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210319005313/en/

Jo Ann Pruchniewski
Public Relations, Esri
Mobile: 301-693-2643
Email: jpruchniewski@esri.com