Detroit-based drone air traffic manager Airspace Link and Blueflight, a drone-based aerial logistics company in Brighton, are partnering to build a platform to ensure safe, scalable unmanned flight operations.
Detroit-based drone air traffic manager Airspace Link and Blueflight, a drone-based aerial logistics company in Brighton, are partnering to build a platform to ensure safe, scalable unmanned flight operations.
The announcement was made at the recent Reindustrialize 2.0 advanced manufacturing and mobility conference.
The alliance brings together Blueflite’s patented tiltrotor UAV platform, engineered for high-performance autonomous missions, and Airspace Link’s enterprise-grade Drone Operations Management System (DOMS).
Airspace Link’s DOMS provides infrastructure for urban airspace security and management, integrating with existing infrastructure while delivering comprehensive data management, advanced security frameworks, and real-time operational oversight through unified system integration. Together, they deliver a turnkey solution for drone-powered commercial logistics at scale.
“This is the infrastructure the drone economy has been waiting for,” says Frank Noppel, CEO of Blueflite. “With this partnership, we are offering more than drone delivery, we are enabling a new aerial logistics network that’s secure, autonomous, and built in America.”
The announcement comes amid a surge of government support for the domestic drone industry, including more than $30 billion in funding under H.R.1 and the June 2025 Executive Order on Drone Dominance, which calls for accelerated deployment of U.S.-made drone technologies.
Airspace Link and Blueflite already are working together under multiple contract awards across defense and health care sectors, proving the power of their integrated solution in real-world operations.
“The future of advanced drone mobility hinges on the safe and secure integration into the national airspace, hardware, software, and compliance. This partnership delivers all of it,” says Michael Healander, CEO of Airspace Link. “It’s the blueprint for safe, autonomous flight in complex environments.”
From military logistics and emergency response to counter-UAS and infrastructure protection, the combined platform seeks to address urgent needs across both public and private sectors. With live deployments already underway, the companies’ joint capabilities are being demonstrated through strategic partnerships including their work with Jack Demmer Automotive Group, one of the four AAM Activation Fund recipients announced by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as part of Michigan’s new Advanced Air Mobility Initiative.
The Jack Demmer project, which received $740,000 in AAM Activation Fund support, represents a collaboration with Blueflite and Airspace Link to advance automotive parts delivery within a 12-mile radius of Jack Demmer Ford dealerships. This initiative addresses current logistics challenges caused by road congestion and workforce shortages in urban settings like metro Detroit, creating a more resilient and efficient supply chain through advanced aerial mobility solutions.
The project is said to align with Whitmer’s Executive Directive 2025-4, establishing the Michigan Advanced Air Mobility Initiative, which positions the state as a national leader in next-generation aviation technologies. The directive calls for leveraging drone delivery and autonomous aerial systems to strengthen critical supply chains, protect national security, and reduce dependence on foreign manufacturing.
As new opportunities emerge through strengthened government partnerships, Blueflite and Airspace Link say they are “uniquely positioned” to lead the next wave of American aerial mobility, with proven capabilities being deployed in real-world commercial applications.
