The Drone Wire
NUAIR Selects AirMap as UTM Provider for Nation’s First Drone Corridor
The Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR Alliance) and Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York, have selected AirMap, the leading global UAS Traffic Management (UTM) platform, to provide UTM services to visualize, manage, and support drone operations at the Griffiss New York UAS Test Site, one of just seven FAA-designated national UAS test sites.
NUAIR Alliance is currently building the nation’s first and only UTM 50-mile test corridor for beyond visual line-of-sight testing (BVLOS). The project is an important milestone as NUAIR advances the research, development, and deployment of leading-edge technologies to support its mission to safely integrate UAS into the nation’s airspace. The AirMap partnership will provide enhanced UTM capabilities for ongoing drone operations.
“The State is making strategic investments, like our support for the first-in-the-nation UAS corridor in Upstate New York, which will ensure we remain at the forefront of the burgeoning UAS industry that is growing jobs and strengthening our economy,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky.
The AirMap UTM Platform will power NUAIR’s core UTM services, allowing traffic controllers management of airspace data, authorizations, and real-time air traffic. AirMap will also enable USS-to-USS communications interfaces for the exchange of safety-critical airspace information between NUAIR and other UAS Service Suppliers (USS). AirMap also brings demonstrated expertise in low-altitude airspace management, deconfliction, and authorization worldwide to operationalize advanced UAS concepts such as BVLOS, remote ID, and counter-UAS.
“NUAIR Alliance is excited to bring in AirMap to power the test corridor with leading-edge UTM services,” said Major General Marke F. “Hoot” Gibson, chief executive officer of the NUAIR Alliance. “Their global expertise is essential in accelerating the work we’re doing to advance UAS technologies. “
NUAIR and AirMap’s partnership creates new opportunities to advance the research and development of technologies for UAS, which can attract new, permanent businesses to the region.
AirMap has been first-to-market on four continents, with offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC. AirMap will launch a New York office to support NUAIR’s mission and efforts to advance UTM technology.
“AirMap works to support and enable advanced drone operations with leading UTM technologies,” said Ben Marcus, AirMap co-founder and chairman. “We share in New York state’s vision, and we’re proud to partner with NUAIR in integrating drones safely into the national airspace system.”
With support from New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and an announced investment of $30 million a 50-mile UAS corridor and UAS traffic management system between Syracuse and Griffiss International Airport in Rome, NY is being developed with leading-edge technologies. The investment is part of CNY Rising, Central New York’s comprehensive strategy to revitalize communities and grow the economy.
“Adding AirMap as a partner to Oneida County’s UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport will be a huge boon to our efforts to establish our 50-mile UTM corridor between Rome and Syracuse,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “Moves like this continue to strengthen our position as the nation’s leader in UAS management, research and innovation and establish the Mohawk Valley and Central New York in the global industry.”
