EDCO, OSU Announce Partnership To Test Unmanned Aerial Systems

BEND, OR — Economic Development for Central Oregon and Oregon State University have signed an agreement to develop technologies related to unmanned aerial systems. OSU said this will benefit their academics and research programs, particularly natural resource management. Collins Hemingway, Volunteer Chair with EDCO was a guest Thursday morning on Wake Up Bend! He said it’s not just the school that will benefit.

“It helps us by giving us an opportunity to begging flying these unmanned aerial vehicles and develop the expertise we need to build the industry around those test flights.”

Hemingway added a conservative ERCO business plan shows this joint effort eventually helping the Central Oregon economy.

“We believe that over seven years, we can have as many as 450 to 500 new jobs, good paying jobs, industry and manufacturing type jobs that would generate as much as $28 to $30 million in salaries and probobly have an overall impact in the area of $75 million.”

Hemingway added that once these aircraft leave the ground, you won’t see these flying over Bend, because of FAA flying and safety standards.