General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, confirmed plans to open a RPA Training Academy in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

GA-ASI has signed a 10-year lease and is expecting to break ground soon. GA-ASI flight crew training will commence early next year and the company expects to welcome its first foreign military sales (FMS) customers shortly thereafter.

“The mission of the GA-ASI Training Academy is to increase the overall capacity for flight crew training on our aircraft systems,” said Linden P. Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “The Training Academy will complement our customers’ organic training capabilities and fill the growing need across our RPA enterprise to address the pilot shortage.”