Officials highlighting planned Nevada drone testing facility

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Nevada officials are taking another step to boost a fledgling unmanned aerial vehicle testing industry, with the development of a drone testing facility adjacent to a state college campus in Henderson.

A ceremony Wednesday at Nevada State College will highlight plans by the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems and the city of Henderson to build a 6-acre facility.

It'll be called the Henderson Unmanned Vehicle Range.

Officials say when it's built, it'll feature a 150-foot runway, four vertical landing pads, an observation tower, a flight operations control center and a netted drone area.

Institute official Mark Barker tells the Las Vegas Sun (https://bit.ly/2j15BE0 ) the aim isn't to attract hobbyists.

It's for commercial entities and organizations, and maybe the Defense Department, to test small drones weighing less than 55 pounds.

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Information from: Las Vegas Sun, http://www.lasvegassun.com