Vigilant Aerospace Unveils FlightHorizon TEMPO at Oklahoma Spaceport

Vigilant Aerospace Deploys FlightHorizon TEMPO at Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport

In a significant advancement for airspace management, Vigilant Aerospace Systems has successfully installed its cutting-edge FlightHorizon TEMPO system at the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport, positioned near Burns Flat. This installation marks a pivotal step toward enhancing the surveillance and management capabilities necessary for autonomous aircraft operations and high-speed flight testing.

Reshaping Airspace Management

The FlightHorizon TEMPO system is tailored to provide sophisticated airspace surveillance and facilitate automatic detect-and-avoid functionalities using long-range mobile radars. As part of the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) initiative, this advancement is aimed at establishing a national launchpad catering to both military and civilian autonomous aircraft, in a region poised for innovation in aerial technology.

The versatility of the FlightHorizon TEMPO system extends across thousands of square kilometers surrounding the spaceport, effectively managing a network of multiple radars, transponder receivers, and various data sources to create a comprehensive real-time airspace picture. This functionality is crucial during high-speed flight testing where ensuring safety and collision avoidance becomes paramount.

Navigating the Future of Flight

This project, developed under a multi-year agreement, is integral to supporting the growing field of uncrewed aircraft operations. With capabilities for automatic collision avoidance and real-time traffic displays on a 3D map, the system also supports data logging and generates built-in reporting functionalities. Its cloud-based architecture further allows operational oversight from any location, significantly reducing dependence on traditional chase aircraft and ground observer teams during autonomous flights.

Expanding the operational footprint, the current coverage area provided by the FlightHorizon TEMPO system encompasses approximately 5,000 square kilometers, with intentions to broaden this to about 10,000 square kilometers, thus boosting the region's capacity for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone testing.

Infrastructure for Autonomous Aviation

Doug Wood, the State Manager for Advanced Air Mobility at ODAA, emphasized the importance of this deployment: "This is a key milestone in building out the infrastructure required for a national proving ground for long-distance, autonomous flight testing. FlightHorizon provides the robust traffic management system required—a standards-based, multi-sensor-ready solution that can grow with future military, cargo UAV, and air taxi operations."

Vigilant Aerospace's CEO, Kraettli L. Epperson, also highlighted the urgency of integrating such systems as aviation moves deeper into the realm of autonomy, not just for commercial applications, but also as a critical element of national security. He expressed pride in the role of Vigilant Aerospace in supporting this crucial infrastructure in Oklahoma.

About Vigilant Aerospace Systems

Vigilant Aerospace is recognized as a leading independent developer of airspace management software and multi-sensor detect-and-avoid systems specifically designed for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). Their flagship product, FlightHorizon, capitalizes on two pioneering NASA patents to present an operationally relevant, real-time depiction of air traffic surrounding UAS, while proposing automatic avoidance strategies to prevent aerial collisions. Based in Oklahoma City, Vigilant Aerospace is at the forefront of innovation in the rapidly evolving domain of aerial technology.

In conclusion, with the FlightHorizon TEMPO now operational at the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport, Vigilant Aerospace Systems is aligning its efforts with state and federal initiatives to foster a robust future of aerial autonomy, security, and collaboration in the skies.