Schumer Launches Full-Court Press on FAA to Choose Grifiss-Led NUAIR for New Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Site - Standing at Griffiss Int'l. Airport, Senator Will Tout Central NY's High-Tech Firms, Attractive Air Space for Job-Creating Project

Press Release

Today, at Griffiss International Airport's Commercial Hangar in Rome, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to select Central New York-based NUAIR's application, led by Griffiss International Airport, at his urging, for their test site for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) designation, which would potentially bring jobs and millions of dollars in high-tech investment to the Oneida County region. 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. This would begin the process for Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to be used for purposes like responding to natural disasters, cracking down on illegal border activity, and aiding the agriculture industry. 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. Working with NUAIR, I'll keep making the case to the FAA that Central New York is the ideal location to lead the way on doing more unmanned aircraft systems research, for purposes like cracking down on cross-border drug smuggling, responding to natural disasters and aiding our local farmers and the agriculture industry," said Schumer. "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 andthe 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. Since working to pass the legislation needed for Central New York to compete for this designation, Schumer has been working hand-in-glove with locals to ensure their plan for the future of UAS technology, research and safety is ready for full FAA review.

Schumer argued that Upstate New York and Massachusetts had a number of attractive qualities for a unmanned systems testing site. New York's NUAIR proposal includes some of the most diverse airspace of any other applicant. Multiple test ranges in New York and Massachusetts are ready to take on the FAA's mission, featuring ready-to-use Class D airspace. Furthermore, the New York and Massachusetts application offers both geographic and climatic diversity. For example, Schumer noted that the NUAIR application offered both Atlantic and Great Lakes locations, coastal and inland locations, flat and mountainous terrain, and warm and cold climate options. In addition to the geographic advantages of NUAIR's application, Schumer underscored the longstanding experience with military -- and specifically unmanned systems -- operations offered by Hancock Air Field, Fort Drum and Griffiss, as well as existing federal infrastructure like the 174th Air National Guard Attack Wing at Hancock Field, Wheeler Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum, the Air Force Research Lab facility at Stockbridge and the Massachusetts Military Reservation.

Schumer also highlighted what it means for New York State to lead the way on UAS technology and research. He explained how the FAA's plan translates into jobs for New York. Already, an alliance of more than 40 aerospace industry and academic institutions has its eyes on Central New York. Researchers, engineers and other good-paying employers are engaged with universities to teach this technology and recruit experts in the industry. In the Utica/Rome region alone, partners like Rome Labs, PAR Government Systems, Rome Research Corporation, AFRL, the Eastern Air Defense Sector and the Stockbridge Test Site are working to take on this challenge and assist the FAA. Schumer emphasized the academic partners of Mohawk Valley Community College, SUNY IT, Syracuse University, Onondaga Community College, Clarkson University, and RIT. But, even more promising, are the commercial applications of UAS systems: like precision agriculture, cargo delivery, flood plain surveillance, meteorology, mail and freight transport and border security, among others.

Schumer pointed to a recent study that projected the UAS industry would create an estimated 70,000 new jobs nationwide by 2017 and more than 100,000 by 2025. The total economic impact of the UAS industry in the U.S. will also reach $82 billion by 2025. Right now, New York is projected to be 9th in the nation in terms of economic impact and job growth for UAS integration. Much of the reason, Schumer says, is because of the foundation already established by Hancock Air Field and other top-notch local industry and educational anchors. Schumer says, Central New York's unique regional assets, including the industry expertise the region is known for, along with its diverse climate will mean the lion's share of the economic gains in the future will stay right here in Central New York. The UAS industry is projected to bring more than $800 million in economic impact to New York and Massachusetts and create more than 4,000 jobs over the next three years. The presence of NUAIR and UAS test sites will attract significant research investment to companies and universities in both states.

In 2011, Schumer fought to increase the number of test sites in the National Airspace System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from 4 to 6, which paves the way for this Central New York-centered site. In a personal call to FAA Administrator Huerta, Schumer highlighted that this New York application benefits from the proximity of New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing, the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, NY and Fort Drum. The Central New York region has a number of related high-tech firms, two restricted areas, four seasons, a varied terrain, an over water range, air to ground gunnery capability, large airspace volume and the cyber security assets of Rome Labs -- all key components of an ideal test site. Organizations partnering with NUAIR include Saab Sensis, SRC, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and colleges and universities including Rochester Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, Clarkson University and Northeastern University and the Rome campus of Mohawk Valley Community College, among others.

The Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR) is an organization of more than 40 academic institutions and private and public entities working together to establish FAA designated test sites for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in New York and Massachusetts.

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