WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Richard Hanna last night voted to authorize the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR) test site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome to continue testing through September 2019.

Rep. Hanna, who is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Unmanned Systems Caucus, has been an active leader and advocate of the FAA’s test site initiative to ensure that integration of unmanned systems into national airspace can be carried out safely while respecting privacy rights.

“This is tremendous news for Griffiss,” Rep. Hanna said. “Extending the program through September 2019 creates certainty and stability for this emerging market and the exciting work that’s being conducted right here in Rome. We have one of the most important test sites in the nation because NUAIR is observing how to integrate unmanned vehicles into the highly congested Northeast air space. I am pleased to see that this work will continue for nearly three more years. I fully expect the Senate to pass this measure and send it to the President to be signed into law.”

The test site is headquartered at Griffiss and Joint Base Cape Cod in Massachusetts. NUAIR is an alliance of more than 40 private and public entities and academic institutions from across New York and Massachusetts that partnered to promote Griffiss as an ideal location to conduct testing and research to allow for the safe integration of unmanned vehicles and systems into the national airspace. The location was named one of six FAA test sites in the nation in 2013.

In selecting the six test site operators, the FAA considered geography, climate, location of ground infrastructure, research needs, airspace use, safety, aviation experience and risk. In addition to Griffiss, the other test sites are located in: Alaska, Nevada, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia.

The unmanned test site extension is part of a larger FAA extension that provides much-needed stability for our aviation system through September 2017. The bill includes significant airport security reforms as well as critical aviation safety provisions and time-sensitive enhancements for air travelers. The FAA’s current authorization was set to expire July 15, 2016. 

“This is a great next step for Griffiss. Extending the program is an essential piece to the puzzle that brings certainty to our unmanned operations at Griffiss,” Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr.said. “Over the course of three additional years we will continue the important work of integrating unmanned aircraft into the national airspace. We will also take this time to grow this new technology industry to be an economic boon for Oneida County and the entire region.”

FAA EXTENSION HIGHLIGHTS

SAFETY: Addresses key safety recommendations following the Germanwings and Asiana Airlines accidents in 2015 and 2013 respectively.  These include requirements for improving pilot mental health screenings and reinforcing the importance of manual flying skills.

TSA: Seeks to address the long waits at TSA lines by redeploying certain TSA personnel and examining the TSA’s current deployment model.

SECURITY: Improves airport security and reducing the threat of “insider attacks” by strengthening access controls and employee vetting standards for airport workers.

PROTECTION: Includes important consumer protections for the flying public that will help ensure families with young children can sit together on airplanes, require baggage fee refunds for lost luggage and improve the air travel experience for individuals with disabilities.

NEXT STEPS

The legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration where it is expected to pass in the coming days and be signed into law by the President.

House and Senate transportation leaders said they’re committed to working together on a longer-term reauthorization that includes other important reforms benefiting all passengers and Americans who depend on a safe aviation system.