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In a room filled with local leaders and decision-makers, Airspace Link’s Co-Founder, President, and CEO, Michael Healander, took the stage at the SEMCOG General Assembly yesterday in Novi, Michigan. Alongside him was Kevin Krause, Director of Community Safety and Development for Romulus, Michigan, who was eager to share his city’s transformative journey. Together, they painted a picture of how drone technology is not only changing the landscape of public safety but also paving the way for economic growth in communities like Romulus.
A City with Its Eyes on the Sky
Romulus, Michigan, home to one of the busiest airports in the United States, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), was once a place where drones were grounded—literally. With the airspace restricted, the idea of drones in the sky for deliveries or public safety operations seemed hard to reach. That all changed when Airspace Link and Romulus teamed up.
Michael Healander introduced the audience to Airspace Link’s mission of building the infrastructure to safely support drones, describing the company’s role as the "Smart Maps for drones." Unlike traditional mapping platforms, Airspace Link’s AirHub® Portal platform provides critical air traffic management for low-altitude operations, ensuring that recreational and commercial drone pilots can access the airspace without conflicting with manned aircraft or each other. “We’re building the infrastructure that communities need to safely and efficiently manage drones, just like airplanes,” Healander explained.
By partnering with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), local governments, and private businesses, Airspace Link is laying the groundwork for a future where drones play a vital role in delivery services, emergency response, and more.
For Romulus, building that infrastructure has made all the difference. Kevin Krause highlighted Romulus’s journey from having zero drone access to becoming a drone-ready city in less than a year. With the help of Airspace Link, they have opened 56% of the city’s airspace to drone operations. This breakthrough allows over 23,000 residents and over 800 businesses to now safely utilize drones for various purposes, from recreational flying to advanced commercial operations.
And they’ve already seen the benefits. By using drones in public safety operations, the city can now deploy drones ahead of first responders to assess situations in real-time, enhancing the safety of both officers and civilians.
“We’re not just thinking about the drones of today but how we can use this technology for future economic growth,” Krause said. Romulus’s strategic location as a transportation hub, combined with its newly accessible airspace, is now positioning the city to attract new businesses that rely on drone logistics and delivery services.
The Road Ahead
As Healander spoke about the future of drones, he shared a glimpse of what’s coming. With new FAA regulations on the horizon, including Part 108, which will set rules for advanced drone operations, such as package delivery and beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights, communities like Romulus that are already preparing their airspace will be the first to benefit from these advancements.
“The future is closer than we think,” Healander noted. “Only communities that have laid the groundwork will be ready to seize these opportunities.”
Romulus is already ahead of the curve. With the airspace opened up and the right infrastructure in place, the city is positioning itself as a leader in drone technology. Krause emphasized how this technology is a game-changer for public safety, but also for economic development, drawing businesses that rely on drones for delivery and logistics.
A Collaborative Journey
The partnership between Airspace Link and Romulus is a testament to what can happen when communities embrace innovation. Both Healander and Krause emphasized that drone integration is not just about technology—it’s about collaboration. Whether it’s working with the FAA to safely open airspace or partnering with local governments to establish drone policies, the success of these initiatives relies on coordination across multiple sectors.
“Airspace Link is more than just software; we’re partners in helping cities build a drone-ready future,” Healander said, inviting other communities to take the steps that Romulus has in preparing for a new era of air mobility.
The session at the SEMCOG General Assembly showcased how Airspace Link’s innovative solutions and partnerships are leading the way in safely integrating drones into local communities, setting the stage for both public safety improvements and economic development. As drones become a larger part of our lives, Airspace Link and cities like Romulus are paving the way for a more connected, safe, and efficient future.