BVLOS Innovation Centre (BVLOS InC)
BVLOS Innovation Centre (BVLOS InC) formalizes the long-standing relationship between the Foremost UAS Test Range and the technical, operational, and regulatory compliance expertise of UxS Consulting Limited. The partnership creates a cohesive set of capabilities to enable RPAS organizations achieve their BVLOS aspirations.
We are your trusted advisor. We do not compete with OEMs, manufacturers, or operators in the RPAS sector, rather, we apply our expertise and capabilities to help you succeed.
Mission
BVLOS InC plays a pivotal role in the transition from Visual Line of Sight operations (VLOS) to flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). The transition to BVLOS is no longer an aspiration but rather an imperative that allows organizations to take advantage of the significant opportunities of an RPAS sector economy – one driven by increased:
- efficiencies (tasks are completed faster, better, and more accurately),
- safety (removal of people from tedious and hazardous conditions), and
- effectiveness of service delivery (both data and goods).
BVLOS InC’s tagline describes three foundational pillars that represent value for users in both the commercial and defence sectors.
Advancing Capability
Innovative Projects that resolve barriers to RPAS adoption
In addition to our ongoing projects that are developing capabilities for the betterment of the RPAS sector, we also maintain curated list of “hard problems” seeking funding support and execution.
Projects can be technical to resolve specific BVLOS challenges, or administrative to increases sector knowledge and capability.
Ensuring Safety
Standardized testing to facilitate operating approvals
Our services help RPAS organizations understand and meet the air and ground safety requirements for BVLOS.
Audited gaps in technical, operational and regulatory compliance across the RPAS organization are remedied and witnessed by a qualified third party.
Building Trust
Evidence-based advocacy to address stakeholders’ concerns
The realistic and consistent reporting on BVLOS capability helps to develop trust amongst all RPAS stakeholders.
From an agnostic viewpoint, our advocacy efforts raise key issues and promote discussion amongst RPAS sector experts.
Leadership
The BVLOS InC creates an ecosystem where a cohesive set of capabilities will advance the RPAS industry. Our team’s collective experience is well aligned with three mission pillars.
Advancing Capability with innovative projects
- Extensive R&D experience (DRDC); in Defence (DND, DoD, Middle East, Arctic), and commercial UAS environments.
- History of working with academic institutions and SMBs on research projects.
- Demonstrated success in completing industrial research activities.
- Maintain a network of experts when specific knowledge and expertise is required.
Ensuring Safety thru Regulatory Compliance
- Completed hundreds of SFOC applications for many Canadian companies.
- Guided some of the best of those companies to become today’s BVLOS leaders.
- Provided flight testing expertise, advice and the third-party validation required to develop operational safety cases for approval by Regulators.
Building Trust with evidence-based advocacy
- Participate in RPAS industry enabling activities to define regulations and standards.
- Foster a well-developed client base of more than 100 Small & Medium Businesses in the Canadian RPAS sector.
- Create awareness of the need to demonstrate safety and the resolution of sector enabling challenges.
DOUG HANNA
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Doug Hanna
As the Founder and CEO, Doug has witnessed the maturation of technologies that fueled the evolution of the RPAS industry toward the rapidly emerging state we see today. In response, he has provided leadership to resolving some of the primary barriers to RPAS adoption; the founding of BVLOS InC being the latest development to serve the needs of all sector stakeholders.
Doug has more than 30 years of experience in unmanned ground & unmanned air systems as a researcher, project manager, and program manager. He conducted research in ground vehicle mobility, and successfully advocated for a more comprehensive robotics research program to better serve Defence needs which made Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC) – Suffield the lead Centre for unmanned vehicle systems research in DND. His research team focused on next generation unmanned ground and close-air systems for military and public security operations for detecting landmines, improvised explosive devices, and weapons of mass destruction.
In 2013, he started UxS Consulting Limited UAS company to assist UAS companies meeting Transport Canada requirements for safe operations. He was instrumental across several early sector initiatives that ultimately resulted in the creation of the Foremost UAS Test Range in 2015, serving as its General Manger to this day. The Range is a Transport Canada authorized Class F restricted airspace for Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight R&D and T&E.
Doug holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University and is a founding member of the Transport Canada Drone Advisory Committee (CanaDAC).
Chris Brosinsky
Chief Strategy Officer
Chris Brosinsky
As Chief of Strategy, Chris leads the creation and implementation of a number of strategic initiatives that serve to enable the RPAS Sector. One such current initiative is the development of a risk-based, RPAS-specific airworthiness program to meet a latent sector need. This work enables an organization to prove its air and ground safety toward gaining approvals for high risk BVLOS applications.
Chris completed a fulsome 32-year career within the DND research environment of Defence R&D Canada. He published research on energetic materiel phenomena and on the defence application of both unmanned air and ground systems. He has both led research teams and held key leadership positions related to advancing the adoption of science and technology into the Defence realm. From DND’s Strong Secure Engaged Defence Policy, he led the development and implementation of the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program; an investment $1.6 B over 20 years, destined to attract more Canadian research expertise toward solving the hardest defence and security challenges.
Previously, he co-founded a successful engineering consultancy in Alberta’s oil and gas sector aimed at production optimization. Chris is active in Standard Council of Canada’s ISO Mirror Committees in the UAS sector. He graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in both Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Technology and holds a Master’s degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University.
Steve Donovan
Operations Manager
Steve Donovan
As the Operations Manager, Steve is responsible for the daily activity at the Foremost UAS Test Range. He is the primary liaison with all Range users assisting them in getting their comprehensive application documentation for a Special Flight Operation Certificate (SFOC) required to fly BVLOS at the Range. He also oversees flights operations and proactively coordinates all activities with NAV Canada and local flyers/stake holders.
Steve joined the Canadian Air Force as a Radar Technician for 10 years and then 22 years as a Defense Contractor in the Canadian Arctic, Alaska, and the Middle East. His radar experience is broad across many roles, Air Force Supervisor; instructor for component level repair of complex 3D Radar system; and operational management roles
including airfield management, radar technical specialist, QC/QA, and developing/administering comprehensive operating procedures. In addition, Steve has a 5-year background working in the Oil Sands as a Foreman for electrical and instrumentation (E&I) crews, whereas safety is paramount and stressed in every task performed in this environment.
Steve has a Canadian Air Force technical training background to trade qualification level (QL) 6 and has an Alberta Journeyman qualification for Instrumentation.








Our Services
Our services are aligned with our threefold mandate: Advancing Capability, Ensuring Safety, Building Trust.
ADVANCING CAPABILITY - Conceive and execute innovative projects to resolve barriers to RPAS/BVLOS adoption
Based on our experience in RPAS technologies and a solid understanding of the evolving regulatory trends, BVLOS InC maintains a curated list of relevant projects and initiatives that would benefit the RPAS industry’s adoption and growth. We actively pursue this list by matching industry capabilities with potential funders.
Current Projects
Arcfield Canada
Arcfield Canada (formerly Peraton Canada), under project SkySensus, has funded three Western Canadian RPAS organizations to advance RPAS specific airworthiness (BVLOS InC), Detect and Avoid radar (Canadian UAV) and data analytics (AERIUM Analytics).
ENSURING SAFETY - Airworthiness audits and standardized testing to facilitate operating approvals
We have worked ahead to develop and validate the means of demonstrating compliance in preparation for the degree of rigour that will be required of higher risk RPAS operations. With more than 100 Special Flight Operations Certificates approved, BVLOS InC has invested significant effort in understanding how to address the rigour of the Operational Risk Assessment required of a BVLOS submission.
Significant portions of RPAS airworthiness needs to be proven with technical and operational testing that must be verified by a qualified 3rd Party. Further, the RPAS organization must be well organized and adopt a culture of learning and air safety. An airworthiness paradigm fully addresses the requirements and reviews the entirety of an organization to ensure the system is:
- designed with engineering rigor
- constructed using verifiable processes and materials
- maintained in a predictable manner; and
- operated within designated limitations
and that its operations are
- conducted by trained, certified and approved, competent individuals
- who are acting as members of an approved organization, and
- whose standards of work are verifiable and accepted by the regulating body.
- keep records for compliance and audit purposes.
BUILDING TRUST - Conduct evidence-based advocacy to address stakeholders’ concerns.
Global aviation Regulators (such as Transport Canada) have confirmed that Operational Risk Assessments provide a valid way for RPAS BVLOS safety cases to be approved in advance of final regulations and standards. BVLOS InC considers this to be a privilege that is to be well managed and to ensure our collective actions contribute toward safe RPAS integration. A significant accident or oversight can dramatically slow our progress.
We are committed to all efforts that define regulations, standards, and best safety practices. Our advocacy efforts serve to bring awareness, educate, and promote dialogue on key issues for resolution; all to aid the RPAS sector in moving forward.
BVLOS InC leadership members are active participants in key RPAS sector committees:
News Releases & Media
PrairiesCan support to establish the Beyond Visual Line of Sight Innovation Centre (BVLOS InC)
The Village of Foremost is pleased to confirm $1.26M of financial support from PrairiesCan (Press Release here) to establish the BVLOS Innovation Centre (BVLOS InC) at the Foremost UAS Test Range. The announced funding confirms the value of the BVLOS Innovation Centre’s focus on the promotion of a cohesive set…
Applied Innovation to Transition from VLOS to BVLOS Operations
The transition from VLOS to BVLOS is complex and detailed. It’s not simply a matter of flying further, there are many additional considerations and requirements to satisfy. To receive a BVLOS approval (SFOC in Transport Canada or Waiver from the FAA), the RPAS operator must demonstrate the following…
Advancing Capability – Innovative BVLOS Enabling Projects to Address RPAS Sector Needs
In other BVLOS Innovation Centre articles, the three interrelated pillars of our mission were explained (here) and how they are advancing the BVLOS sector (here). The first of those pillars which starts the innovation cycle is Advancing Capability. We have already completed numerous projects and have several others ongoing that…
Links
- Foremost UAS Test Range
- Transport Canada – Drone safety
- Canadian Aviation Regulations Part IX Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems
- BVLOS – Operational Risk Assessment AC 903.001
- RPAS Assurance AC 922.001
- Joint Authority for Rulemaking from Unmanned Systems publications – JARUS
- NAV Canada – NAV drone application
- Aerial Evolution Association of Canada
- Association Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, the Test Range remains available for use by any organization as has always been the case. Usage includes access to the Restricted airspace and facilities as coordinated by contacting the Foremost Range Operations Manager/Range Safety Officer directly: see www.foremostuasrange.ca
UxS Consulting is contracted by the Village of Foremost to operate their Test Range and have always offered technical and operational advice and guidance as part of that usage.
BVLOS InC captures the UxS Consulting/Test Range partnership to better serve the RPAS sector needs. If requested, BVLOS InC RPAS expertise is available to help organizations achieve their BVLOS aspirations.
BVLOS InC exists to help organizations achieve their BVLOS aspirations, we are not your competitors. We do not build/sell or operate RPAS commercially. Our activities follow the three-pillar mandate that were designed to increase the chances of your RPAS applications becoming viable. While we have many RPAS, we only fly to validate our own instrumentation, identify challenges, or better support your trials i.e. RFI scans, radar presentations, imagery etc.
Our work with you is held in confidence and we prefer to work under bilateral Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) to ensure that sensitive material is protected appropriately. These NDAs are often the first order of business when you contact us.
If we are aware of a connection or information that may be of help to you, we will seek mutual permission before remaking those connections. Similarly, to the extent that you endorse, we would like to promote you and your successes, and insights. Surveys may be provided to gather feedback and where possible, solicit your approval to promote your efforts in picture and written form.
We do report publicly on the number of test days, number of organizations, sector affiliations etc. in a non-attributable manner.
Whether you want to get involved in a project or want us to help you gain your BVLOS approval, we generally start with a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to ensure that we can have the right conversations.
For projects, that intention is to help define how your idea or challenge might be addressed or how it might be included in a funding proposal. Conversely, we are interested in a dialogue about how your organizational capabilities might become part of how we deliver one of our own projects.
For advancing your BVLOS approvals, we work as your Agents in dealing with Transport Canada inspectors. An Agency agreement allow us to talk directly to Transport Canada about your specific submission to uncover the way ahead and collaborate on solutions to any concerns or data requirements. With a way forward, we work closely with clients to develop all required documentation and evidence to prove our safety case.
You don’t. You can complete and submit an ORA on you own. It is our experience that as your proposed mission risk increases, that fulsome submissions require an increasing degree of expertise, well organized documentation, and the ability to conduct engineering analysis and policy reviews. Depending on the nature of your organization, this may be prudent to do in house.
BVLOS InC experience helps you navigate through the complexity of the ORA’s safety objectives, what qualifies as a means of compliance and the types of mitigations that may apply. We can develop flights test to address the evidence gaps as required on any/all claims made and at higher level of risk, provide 3rd party validation as required.
The modernized falcon image was chosen for several reasons. The first is as a tribute to the Foremost Test Range logo which reminds us of the Test Range’s importance to the BVLOS InC offering. Secondly, falcons represent exceptional capabilities as powerful flyers (320 km/hr) with amazing maneuverability, and have exceptional eyesight (2.6x human sight). Lastly, the sport of falconry mimics how BVLOS RPAS function; guided by their handler’s instruction, they travel long distance to complete a task and return home once done.
The arc behind the falcon serves as both a horizon line depicting the extent of BVLOS range and that our pursuit has global impact.
The name BVLOS InC, is a shortened version of BVLOS Innovation Centre. The intentional stylized lettering and coloring rightly indicates that there is more to the name than the commonly used Inc. which signifies an incorporated entity. One introduced with its full name in print or verbally, often we use BVLOS InC or Centre to refer to ourselves.
The tagline describes our threefold mission in helping the RPAS sector advance. See the mission section of this page for more.
Flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight or BVLOS is the standard phrase for RPAS flights that extend beyond the ability for a pilot to take control based on visual clues of its orientation. BVLOS also implies increased air and ground risk associated with the complexities of an operating intention in non-segregated airspace, around populated areas, and some specific characteristics of the RPAS.
Innovation is simply, a good idea that is applied. We seek solutions for BVLOS challenges that can be applied to help operators achieve the economic multiplier, the efficiency, and safety promised by BVLOS. A solution can be anything; a procedure, a technology, a policy, or a process.
We chose to use Centre to indicate a collection point for all activity related to our threefold mission of advancing capability, ensuring safety and building trust.