On October 8th, 2026, plans were unveiled for the Bissett Autonomous Aviation Park at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) a one-of-a-kind facility dedicated to the training, testing and certification of remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft.
Made possible by a $30-million gift from Calgary philanthropist and long-time SAIT supporter David Bissett, the transformational investment will pave the way for the future of autonomous aviation innovation, applied research and industry readiness in Calgary and Alberta. Importantly, this is a significant contribution to SAIT's $150 million Real Futures campaign.
"A province's prosperity depends on whether its people have the skills the global economy is asking for," says Bissett. "Autonomous flight is a new industry taking shape in real time. I want young Albertans to be building it, not watching it happen somewhere else, and I'm confident SAIT will turn this investment into careers, companies and lasting economic strength for our province."
With $6 million earmarked to support student awards, this investment will increase access to remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) education. Using advanced sensor technology and software to navigate flight with human oversight, RPAS innovation and technology is changing how industries can operate more efficiently and safely.
"We've trained aviation professionals since 1928. From our humble beginnings to delivering industry-leading education in aircraft maintenance, structures, avionics and remotely piloted aircraft systems, SAIT has established its place as a leader in aviation education," says Dr. David Ross, President and CEO, SAIT. "This gift will cement SAIT's position at the centre of autonomous aviation in western Canada."
Students will be participants rather than observers at the aviation park working on research projects, field testing and learning directly from SAIT's industry partners. They'll train, test and fly autonomous aircraft systems alongside industry partners at the facility, and work-integrated learning opportunities will connect them directly to companies building Calgary's aviation future.
The Bissett Autonomous Aviation Park will integrate three key elements into a single ecosystem remotely piloted aviation training, applied research and innovation and strategic industry engagement. Learners will be embedded across all three areas to deliver an immersive, full spectrum RPAS education with real-world practice and co-op placements alongside commercial operations.
"SAIT continues to open new doors in aviation training and today's announcement recognizes our industry-leading expertise in a rapidly developing aviation and aerospace ecosystem," says Lynda Holden, Dean, SAIT's School of Transportation and School of Manufacturing and Automation. "The aviation park will expand SAIT's autonomous aviation training capacity and prepare students with the skills and expertise to shape the future of Alberta's aerospace sector."
According to Statistics Canada, the aerospace sector contributed $3 billion to Alberta's GDP in 2024. As the sector continues to see significant growth, Calgary Economic Development identified autonomous aviation as an economic driver within Calgary's aerospace ecosystem. With more than 400 aerospace and defence organizations province-wide, the sector is projected to reach $4.7 billion and nearly 60% employment growth by 2030.
In 2023, SAIT launched western Canada's first Professional Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems certificate, and to meet demands of the rapidly growing sector, the first Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems diploma was launched this fall.
Additionally, through SAIT's Applied Research and Innovation Services, the Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems (CIRUS) is an industry-leading applied research facility dedicated to RPAS technology and development for heavy-lift and beyond visual line of sight applications. Working with global manufacturers and sensor developers, CIRUS is training medium-lift drone pilots and technicians, and furthering research and development to fill the expertise gap across Alberta and Canada.
