Osage Nation Creating One of Only Three Commercial Drone Ports In The Country
Photo Credits to Osage Nation
The Osage Nation known as 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 (wahzhazhe) takes care of their people through uplifting education, economy, civic engagement, culture & language, natural resources, and public health. The Osage Nation Reservation is also referred to as Osage County in Oklahoma and is approximately 1,470,938 acres or 2,298 sq. miles. The nation consists of over 25,000 members, with around 4,467 individuals living in Osage County according to the OsageCulture webpage.
The nation is continuing to take care of its people with an innovative economic development project, Skyway36. It sits on a property bought by the tribe 10 years ago and is west of the Osage Tulsa Casino according to Oklahoma Commerce.
Skyway36 Droneport and Technology Innovation Center, formerly known as Tulsa Downtown Airpark, flight tests all modes of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technologies. It is built in partnership with Osage LLC, Oklahoma State University, and Tulsa Innovation Labs. Skyway36 is home to the state-of-the-art 19,000-square-foot indoor drone testing and validation facility developed and operated by WindShape, a global leader in drone technology.
Photo from Osage LLC
“Osage Nation’s Skyway36 Airpark is a unique property that offers plenty of space for experimentation and development,” Osage Nation Principal Chief, Geoffrey Standing Bear.
Funding the Project With EDA grant
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) granted Osage Nation $2.1 million for the continued development of one of only three commercial drone ports in the country. The grant will allow the nation to renovate and improve a building and adjacent hangar at its airpark in Osage County, which has played an integral role in unmanned aerial system research and development.
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG). EDA funds INCOG to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
In October 2024, the Osage Nation posted that they joined the Osage, LLC, Oklahoma State University, and Tulsa Innovation Labs to welcome the EDA Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth and her team to the Osage Nation Reservation. The visit included a site visit to the Skyway36 Droneport and Technology Innovation Center.
“The investments and developments of the EDA and the Osage Nation will continue to spur innovation, STEM opportunities, and economic development throughout Oklahoma. The foundation of innovation requires investments in basic, early-stage research and next generation technologies and the Skyway36 Droneport & Technology Innovation Center will be a nucleus for UAS research and development and the tech startup space.” Congressman Frank Lucas to the EDA.