Vigilant Aerospace Systems demonstrated its cloud-based FlightHorizon TEMPO airspace management system during the NOAA NOW Flight Week Calibration Day this week. The demonstration showed how a deployable, cellular-connected system can support coordinated small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS) operations during large-scale weather observation campaigns.
The event was part of SCALES: Small-UAS Coordination for Atmospheric Low-Level Environmental Sampling, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initiative led with Oklahoma State University’s Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) and the University of Oklahoma’s Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations (CIWRO).
Flight Week is a coordinated field campaign that brings together federal agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners to conduct intensive uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) flight operations in support of atmospheric research. Hosted at OSU’s OAIRE test range, flight week serves as the operational kickoff for NOAA’s next phase of coordinated national weather observation using small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS).
Flight Week and the SCALES program
NOAA Flight Week brought together atmospheric scientists, meteorologists, and UAS engineering teams to evaluate coordinated sUAS operations for weather observation.
The SCALES campaign focuses on collecting high-resolution measurements in the planetary boundary layer, from the surface to 5,000 feet above ground level.
These measurements include temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind profiles in environments difficult to observe using traditional instruments.
The program includes two coordinated efforts:
- microSCALES, focused on urban turbulence and boundary layer effects near Tulsa
- mesoSCALES, a distributed, multi-site network supporting regional weather observation and forecasting
The mesoSCALES effort supports NOAA’s Office of Atmospheric and Oceanic Research and contributes to longer-term goals for routine sUAS-based weather observation.
FlightHorizon Demonstration Overview
During the calibration day, Vigilant Aerospace demonstrated FlightHorizon COMMANDER using a portable ground-based radar connected to a workstation.
The system successfully tracked three to four small drones simultaneously during close-proximity calibration flights.
The demonstration showed real-time radar surveillance, aircraft identification, and coordinated tracking across multiple teams operating concurrently.
A short video from the event shows side-by-side views of airborne drones and the FlightHorizon radar display, illustrating live system performance.
In parallel, Vigilant Aerospace demonstrated FlightHorizon TEMPO, the cloud-hosted version of the system.
TEMPO was operated using a cellular modem to support field deployment without fixed infrastructure.
The demonstration integrated live Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic data, weather radar, weather forecasts, ADS-B In, and other situational awareness features.
Both demonstrations were completed successfully throughout calibration activities.
Multi-Organization, Multi-Site Operations
The calibration day and kickoff event involved 15 major UAS research and engineering teams from the United States and abroad.
Participating organizations included NASA, the University of Kentucky, Oklahoma State University, the University of Colorado Boulder, and international teams from South Korea and Germany.
NOAA oversaw operations with mobile command trailers, weather observation equipment, and a fixed observation tower provided by OAIRE.
Flight operations were conducted across multiple sites in northeastern Oklahoma under coordinated procedures and shared airspace awareness.
Supporting Scalable Weather Observation
The NOAA Flight Week and SCALES program highlight the increasing need for coordinated airspace management as sUAS operations scale.
Distributed weather observation requires reliable situational awareness, particularly when multiple teams operate simultaneously at varying altitudes.
FlightHorizon is designed to support these environments by combining sensor data, surveillance feeds, and airspace awareness tools into a single operational picture.
The event followed the ISARRA conference earlier in the week, where Vigilant Aerospace also presented on detect-and-avoid (DAA) and airspace coordination concepts.
About the National Oceanic and atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducts research and operations focused on weather, climate, oceans, and the atmosphere. NOAA supports national and international efforts to improve environmental monitoring, forecasting, and resilience through science, data, and operational programs.
About the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education at Oklahoma State University (OAIRE)
The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education at Oklahoma State University supports aerospace research, testing, and workforce development. OAIRE plays a central role in uncrewed systems, advanced air mobility, and applied aerospace research across Oklahoma.
About The University of Oklahoma, Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations (CIWRO)
CIWRO is a University of Oklahoma research institute that advances severe weather science and transitions research into operational forecasting. The institute works closely with NOAA to improve weather prediction and decision-support capabilities.
About ISARRA Flight Week
Flight Week is a coordinated field campaign that brings together federal agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners to conduct intensive uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) flight operations in support of atmospheric research. The program focuses on calibrating sensors, validating procedures, and evaluating coordinated multi-site sUAS operations for weather observation, particularly within the lower atmosphere where traditional instruments have limited coverage.
Vigilant Aerospace is the leading developer of multi-sensor detect-and-avoid and airspace management software for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS or drones). The company’s product, FlightHorizon, is based on two NASA patents and uses data from multiple sources to display a real-time picture of the air traffic around a UAS and to provide automatic avoidance maneuvers to prevent collisions. The software is designed to meet industry technical standards, to provide automatic safety and to allow UAS to safely fly beyond the sight of the pilot. The software has won multiple industry awards and the company has had contracts and users at NASA, the FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense and with a variety of drone development programs. Visit our website at www.VigilantAerospace.com