FAA authorizes NUAIR to fly civilian drones between Syracuse and Rome

ROME, N.Y. — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized the drone test site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome to fly civilian drones beyond visual line of sight between Syracuse and Rome, or what’s known as New York’s “drone corridor.”

Those in the industry also refer to drones as uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).

This flight authority will give NUAIR the ability to fly civilian drones from Syracuse Hancock International Airport to Griffiss International Airport in Rome “without the need of visual observers,” the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.

The FAA designation will help to “unlock the full potential and economic advantage” of commercial drone and advanced air-mobility operations, including cargo and passenger transport via uncrewed aircraft, the governor’s office said.

Syracuse–based NUAIR operates the drone corridor. The nonprofit NUAIR is short for Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, Inc.

“New York’s state-of-the-art drone corridor further cements the state’s position as the global leader in this evolving market for cutting-edge drone technology,” Hochul said. “Through our continued investment and focus on drone corridor operations, we are strengthening and growing the regional economies in Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, and statewide for generations to come.”   

New York’s uncrewed aircraft systems test site, which Oneida County owns, is one of only seven FAA-designated UAS test sites in the nation.

Hochul also announced that the state will be providing NUAIR with an additional $21 million in CNY Rising Upstate Revitalization Initiative funding to “cultivate” the UAS industry hub along the corridor in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley. The project will allow for the testing and deployment of infrastructure to enable advanced industry applications, state agency adoption of UAS, and associated workforce development, the governor’s office said.

Besides the FAA authorization, Hochul also announced that NUAIR has entered into an agreement with Quebec–based VPorts to develop the “first-in-the-nation,” international advanced air-mobility corridor between the Syracuse airport and Quebec, Canada. VPorts focuses on the design, construction, and operation of advanced air-mobility infrastructure, per Hochul’s office.

The corridor seeks to “build an ecosystem” that will provide a platform for full commercial-cargo transport operations using electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft or large, helicopter-sized drones.

“Today marks a significant step for NUAIR and the state of New York, reaffirming its leadership in safely integrating drones into the national airspace and enabling the next phase of Advanced Air Mobility operations,” NUAIR CEO Ken Stewart said. “This 50-mile corridor between Rome and Syracuse … uniquely encompasses all the elements and infrastructure that are key for the commercialization of UAS applications such as inspections of transportation and utility infrastructure, medical logistics, environmental conservation, and public safety operations.”