New York Gov. Cuomo proposes investment to establish small UAS experimentation and test facility at Griffiss International Airport

January 6, 2020 | AUVSI News

On Sunday, Jan. 5, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo unveiled a proposal for a $9 million investment to establish a small UAS experimentation and test facility at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, Oneida County.

Known as the “skydome,” the facility will be a year-round indoor small UAS research facility designed to support the safe experimentation of drone technology and techniques such as secure command and control, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and autonomy, to ultimately help enable applications such as emergency management services, damage assessment and recovery search and rescue.

“New York’s forward-thinking investment in drone technology is placing the Mohawk Valley on the global stage for a growing industry,” Gov. Cuomo said during his announcement.

“This groundbreaking project will help solidify the region’s status as a national hub for innovation, support our emergency response capabilities and bolster our ongoing efforts to rebuild the upstate economy region by region.”

Using the New York State investments, an unoccupied hanger at the Griffiss International Airport would be transformed into a unique research and test facility that will support collaborative efforts between the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate and the NY UAS Test Site. The facility will utilize the high-tech commercial and academic ecosystem in the region, and support the development of technologies for small UAS to operate safely and securely in the National Air Space.