NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, Inc.) is a New York-based nonprofit with a mission to safely integrate uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace, enabling scalable, economically viable commercial drone operations.
NUAIR manages operations of the FAA-designated New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport, Rome, NY on behalf of Oneida County and is responsible for the advancement of New York’s 50-mile UAS Corridor between Rome and Syracuse, NY.
In 2011, CenterState CEO, in collaboration with CNY Defense Alliance and sensor industry leaders SRC Inc., Saab Sensis Corp. and Lockheed Martin, assembled the expertise and resources to found NUAIR. Later joined by Mohawk Valley EDGE and MassDevelopment, the organizations successfully collaborated to respond to the UAS Test Site opportunity created by Congress in 2012, resulting in the creation and designation of the New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, NY. New York became home to one of just seven FAA-designated UAS Test Sites in the country.
NUAIR continues to work in collaboration with these regional economic development agencies and other industry partners to support the UAS industry and advance UAS-related economic development opportunities for the region, actively pursuing business attraction leads to bring firms and jobs to the region.
NUAIR PROGRESS
2021
Integration of Industry 4.0 digital and physical infrastructure into New York’s 50-Mile Drone Corridor including AURA’s Communication Network, 5G UAS test network with MITRE Engenuity, and Aveopt’s Communication Infrastructure Mesh.
NUAIR managed a $897,000 NASA task order for Advanced Air Mobility and vertiport development on behalf of the New York UAS Test Site, producing three innovative and industry leading documents.
Continued to support and enable New York State agencies including a Public Safety Drone Summit and launching NYS Thruway Authority’s Drone Pilot Program to assist with highway bridge inspections.
2020
Continued integration of technologies and advancement of capabilities of New York’s 50-mile UAS Corridor and the New York UAS Test Site.
Expanded Consulting Services for state and local agencies, municipalities and other organizations looking to use unmanned vehicles in their operations.
Continued development of the UAS Center of Excellence in the Mohawk Valley.
Continued development & implementation of NUSTAR – National UAS Standardized Testing and Rating. NUSTAR will act as an independent third party that provides safety declarations and validations to UAS industry standards.
2019
Governor Cuomo Announces Completion of 50-Mile Drone Corridor, creates unparalleled drone testing capabilities, supported by CNY Rising – the region’s comprehensive strategy to revitalize communities and grow the economy.
First Segment of NY 50-Mile UAS Corridor Receives BVLOS Authority. First “true” BVLOS authority granted to the FAA-designated test site, which allows unmanned aircraft testing without the need for ground-based observers.
NUAIR Integrates 5 UAS Services Suppliers into New York UAS Test Site. New investment & partnerships expands NUAIR drone testing capabilities to global markets.
2018
New York has developed as a leading national UAS test site, continuing to focus on developing test range infrastructure, investing in high-precision ground-based air traffic surveillance testing capabilities.
NUAIR safely accomplished a total of 732 test site UAS flight operations, bringing the total test flights to 2,082 (LTD), testing small, medium and large UAS.
NUAIR helped establish the SC-228 Subgroup responsible for developing Ground-Based Radar (GBR) standards. Integration of standards-compliant GBR air traffic surveillance into UAS control stations will be an important enabler for routine UAS BVLOS operations in terminal and UTM corridor airspace.
2017
Simulation and flight test evaluations continue at the New York UAS Test Site, helping to validate standards and protocols leading to regulations.
Research and development focus on UAS ground-based detect and avoid (GBDAA) capability to support Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) UAS operations.
NUAIR continues to work with FAA, NASA, and industry, as stakeholders in Real-Time Tracking (RTT) phased program development for Sense and Avoid (SAA) and Communications and Navigation (C&N) working groups.
2016
Governor Cuomo announced New York’s investment of $30 million to develop a 50-mile UAS flight traffic management corridor between Syracuse and Rome. NUAIR is responsible for managing the project, which will allow for safe testing of drone operations beyond visual line of sight of the drone operator.
Central New York and the Mohawk Valley hosted the second annual UAS Traffic Management Convention in Syracuse. NUAIR showcased the region as an industry leader by demonstrating world-leading capabilities for traffic management research and development and UAS testing.
NUAIR and the FAA-Designated New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport developed a state-of-the-art operations control and data center, designed for flight testing future commercial drone operations concepts, assuring that these will meet or exceed federal standards for aviation safety.
NUAIR is a New York nonprofit, 501 (c) organization
Holding the non-profit status allows NUAIR to reinvest into its people, develop intellectual property, enhance R&D projects and initiatives and sets NUAIR and The New York UAS Test Site apart from the other FAA-designated test sites. We carefully monitor administrative overhead to ensure control, and transparency — Financial Statements
NEW YORK UAS TEST SITE
UAS TESTING & STANDARDS VALIDATION
Utilize New York’s 50-Mile UAS Corridor & AAM Proving Grounds