BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is pleased to announce that it has selected ResilienX, Inc. to develop the ground-based sense and avoid system for MICH-AIR, the advanced air mobility hub under development at the Battle Creek Executive Airport (BTL). This system will enable remote and autonomous aircraft to operate in Battle Creek and beyond.
Based in Syracuse, New York, ResilienX is a leading provider of digital infrastructure for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. Under the agreement, ResilienX will deliver an integrated physical and digital operating environment that will allow routine BVLOS operations across the Battle Creek region. The multi-year effort establishes Battle Creek as one of the nation’s most advanced hubs for scalable uncrewed and advanced air mobility operations.
The project will deploy a fully integrated BVLOS ecosystem combining cooperative and non-cooperative surveillance, digital airspace services, and aviation-grade safety assurance. Once operational, the MICH-AIR BVLOS environment will support a wide range of use cases, including public safety, infrastructure inspection, medical logistics, advanced manufacturing, and future defense and security missions.
The BVLOS system is a key part of BCU’s MICH-AIR initiative, which seeks to attract aerospace investment and create high-skill jobs in Battle Creek. In 2018, BCU received a grant from the Michigan Defense Center (now the Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation) to determine Battle Creek’s capacity to support advanced air mobility (AAM), including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles as well as remote and autonomous aircraft. The study concluded that Battle Creek is well positioned to attract investment from AAM companies, due to its airport, available capacity in the air and on the ground, existing company base, strategic location, and community assets.
In 2023, BCU secured a $7 million appropriation in the 2024 Michigan State Budget. The ‘Make it in Michigan’ budget also included $10 million for advanced aerial mobility/drone infrastructure projects including vertiports, drone hubs, drone ports, and last mile delivery.
BTL is a Class D general aviation facility, with ample airspace capacity and more than 200 acres available for development. Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation is based at BTL, where it trains both pilots and airplane mechanics. The Michigan Air National Guard’s 110th Wing is also based at BTL, where it has a remote drone operations center. In addition, BTL is home to Duncan Aviation, which services and maintains business jets; WACO Aircraft, a niche builder of modern biplanes; and Junkers Aircraft, which produces a retro 1930s sports plane. The airport is adjacent to the Fort Custer Industrial Park, the largest facility of its kind in Michigan. BTL will serve as a key spoke for AAM manufacturing in Michigan.
The system to be deployed in Battle Creek will be scalable across Michigan and beyond. It is designed to expand over time, supporting additional operators, new mission profiles, and integration with future state and national drone corridors. The BVLOS ecosystem establishes a critical differentiator for the region, enabling capabilities that few airports in the United States can offer today.
“This project is about more than enabling drone flights,” said BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski. “It is about creating sustainable infrastructure that allows companies, agencies, and researchers to operate safely, at scale, and with confidence. Partnering with ResilienX accelerates our vision for MICH-AIR and strengthens Battle Creek’s role in the future of aviation.”
“Battle Creek is making a deliberate investment in infrastructure, not experiments,” said Andrew Carter, CEO of ResilienX. “MICH-AIR is building a repeatable, standards-aligned BVLOS environment that supports real operations, real users, and long-term economic growth. This project reflects exactly how regions should approach advanced air mobility.”
ResilienX brings deep experience from FAA-approved GBSAA programs, state-scale BVLOS deployments, and ongoing commercial and government operations nationwide. In December, ResilienX announced a collaboration with Michigan Central in Detroit to demonstrate their ORION-X system, which provides on-demand drone flights. In Battle Creek, the initial deployment phase is underway and will progress through system installation, regulatory approvals, and operational demonstrations. The system is expected to be up and running within 12 months.
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ABOUT RESILIENX
ResilienX, Inc. is a Syracuse, New York–based technology company delivering digital infrastructure for safe, scalable drone and advanced air mobility operations. Its platforms integrate safety management, surveillance data fusion, cybersecurity monitoring, and operational orchestration to enable routine BVLOS operations in complex environments. To learn more, visit www.resilienx.com.
ABOUT BATTLE CREEK UNLIMITED
Established in 1972, Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development arm for the City of Battle Creek. BCU manages the Fort Custer Industrial Park, which is home to nearly 90 businesses, including more than two dozen international companies, and employs over 13,000 people. BCU’s mission is to build a strong community by driving strategic investment and job creation in Battle Creek. For more information, visit www.bcunlimited.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Joe Sobieralski
President & CEO
Battle Creek Unlimited
TEL 269-962-7526
sobieralski@bcunlimited.org
Andrew Carter
Co-Founder & CEO
ResilienX
TEL 315-396-6338
carter@resilienx.com
