Calls On The Agency To Choose NUAIR Application Submitted By Griffiss International Airport

In a speech Monday at Griffiss International Airport’s Commercial Hangar in Rome,NY, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the FAA to select Central New York-based NUAIR’s application, led by Griffiss International Airport for a test site for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) designation. The FAA announced in February that it would choose six UAS test sites to conduct research aimed at safely integrating unmanned systems into the National Airspace System by 2015. The FAA will make their formal decision on test sites likely at the end of this year.

NUAIR’s formal FAA application will be led by Griffiss, partnering with Syracuse’s Centerstate Corporation and MassDevelopment in Massachusetts.  Jefferson County’s Fort Drum is also an integral part of this effort with its Wheeler Sack Army Field Assets. “Since day one, I’ve been on board and involved with plans to help the NUAIR team in Syracuse and Rome land a win and become an official UAS test site for the FAA, which would bring Central New York a new job-creating and cutting-edge project," said Schumer (pictured). “The unique NUAIR partnership, which includes some of our best military installations, like Hancock Field, Griffiss and Fort Drum, plus top-rate business leaders of Central New York and our first-rate universities, should be at the top of the FAA’s list.”

Schumer was joined by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, NUAIR officials, Rome Mayor Joe Fusco and members from the Central New York Defense Alliance at Griffiss International Airport, which submitted the application on behalf of the NUAIR partnership.

If selected by the FAA, the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR) team would assemble its partners and put in place their five year plan to transform UAS applications, preparing for the future. NUAIR would conduct research and testing operations for those five years in order to begin the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System. This research and the testing would take place across Upstate New York in restricted airspace. NUAIR has outlined how unmanned vehicles and other unmanned systems are projected to become ubiquitous over the next 10 to 15 years. Schumer explained how the FAA’s own selection criteria for designation and UAS research highlights the assets the Central New York-led NUAIR application already possesses: a high concentration of academic and industry expertise, diverse testing conditions, and a strong track record in other UAS achievements.

FMI: www.nuair.org