Oneida County's Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Test Site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome has been reauthorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), extending its designation for another five years.

The Test Site, which is owned by Oneida County and operated with AX Enterprize, is one of just seven such sites designated by the FAA in the U.S. The extension runs through 2028.

The announcement was made today by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer.

"Over the past 11 years, Oneida County's FAA UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport has led the drone industry in research and development and taken innovation to places never before seen," said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. "We have revolutionized the capabilities of unmanned flights and made the New York Test Site the nation's leader and a global epicenter. Together with our partner AX Enterprize, we will continue to operate this site at an elite level and take it to even further heights. I applaud Senator Schumer for securing the authorization for us to continue our good work and for his staunch support of our mission."

"This extension of Oneida County's prestigious UAS test site designation at Griffiss Airport will ensure the Mohawk Valley and Central New York can soar to new heights on cutting-edge UAS technology," Schumer said. "I fought to include this vital provision in the FAA bill I led to passage to ensure we continue to position the region to build on its global airspace leadership and to pioneer the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace. As one of only seven test sites in the country, the innovation and research being done at Griffiss in Oneida County is transporting the Mohawk Valley and Central NY to the next frontier of scientific innovation and was exactly what I had in mind when I secured it back in 2014 and extended it in 2018. The sky is the limit for the Mohawk Valley."

Oneida County's Test Site remains at the forefront of public policy development, commercialization and safe integration of UAS into the global airspace. Since its inception in 2014, the site has worked with over 200 partners to position itself as a global industry leader. The extension is vital for UAS research and development so the Mohawk Valley can continue to advance UAS research, pioneer safe UAS operations in the national airspace and accelerate UAS industry economic development across the region.

"I'm extremely appreciative of Senator Schumer's support for the FAA Authorization of the UAS Test Sites that was codified in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Bill," said Mary Chruscicki, Co-founder, AX Enterprize. "Oneida County's NY UAS Test Site will continue to lead cutting edge collaborative research efforts with our military, homeland security and commercial partners. This is a key step in supporting Oneida County New York, our tribal nations, and the United States to secure our country while integrating drones safely into our society."