GA-ASI MQ-9 Operations Relocate to Fargo Airport in 2026

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have temporarily relocated their MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft operations to Hector International Airport (FAR) in Fargo, North Dakota, ensuring critical training and border security missions continue during runway construction at Grand Forks Air Force Base.

The operational shift began on April 21, 2026, and is scheduled to conclude on September 30, 2026. According to a press release issued by GA-ASI, the move represents a rare instance of large, non-U.S. government uncrewed aircraft operating regularly at an active commercial and international airport alongside conventional aviation traffic.

Infrastructure updates prompt operational shift

Grand Forks Air Force Base is currently undergoing a major runway resurfacing project. This infrastructure work temporarily closed the runway utilized by GA-ASI’s Flight Test and Training Center, necessitating the 80-mile relocation south to Fargo.

The temporary base at Fargo Jet Center allows GA-ASI to maintain its pilot training and systems testing schedules. It also ensures that CBP Air and Marine Operations can continue their border protection missions without interruption. Dave Fulcher, Director of Air and Marine Operations for CBP’s National Air Security Operations Center-Grand Forks, noted that the partnership is vital to their law enforcement mission and community protection.

Integrating uncrewed systems into commercial airspace

Hector International Airports already hosts daily MQ-9 operations conducted by the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Wing. The addition of GA-ASI’s company-owned aircraft builds upon this existing framework. Air traffic controllers at the airport manage the MQ-9 traffic using standard protocols, demonstrating the feasibility of mixed-use airspace.

GA-ASI President David R. Alexander highlighted the technological maturity enabling this integration.

“As our MQ-9s have evolved, they have become more and more like manned aircraft, with the remote pilot having the same level of situational and traffic awareness that you would find on an airliner,” Alexander stated.

Local aviation leaders echoed the significance of the collaboration. Shawn Dobberstein, Executive Director of Hector International Airport, described the integration of additional MQ-9 flights alongside commercial and general aviation activity as the next chapter in the region’s leadership in uncrewed aircraft systems operations. Jim Sweeney, President of Fargo Jet Center, added that the facility is honored to host the teams driving this work forward.

AirPro News analysis

The temporary relocation of GA-ASI’s MQ-9 operations to Hector International Airport serves as a practical stress test for the integration of large uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) into standard commercial airspace. While military and government-operated drones have established procedures for operating in controlled airspace, the routine inclusion of company-owned, non-government uncrewed aircraft at a busy civilian airport remains uncommon. We view this five-month operational window as a valuable case study for regulators and air navigation service providers. The data and operational experience gathered in Fargo through September 2026 will likely inform future Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policies regarding the normalization of UAS traffic in mixed-use airspace environments.

Sources: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.