Trump’s Transportation Secretary Duffy & FAA Administrator Bedford Announce Two New Designated Sites for Testing Drones and Other Unmanned Aircraft Systems
AI Analysis
The U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA announced two new UAS test sites in Oklahoma and Indiana to advance drone technology development and integration into the National Airspace System (NAS). These sites will focus on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, autonomous systems, and commercial drone applications.
Key Takeaways
- Two new UAS test sites established in Oklahoma (Choctaw Nation) and Indiana (Indiana Economic Development Corporation).
- Focus areas include BVLOS operations, autonomous drone systems, and advanced air mobility.
- Supports the FAA's UAS Test Site Program to safely integrate drones into the NAS.
- Part of the Trump Administration's initiative to enhance U.S. drone dominance and create high-skilled jobs.
- Aligned with the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to expand UAS testing capabilities.
Why It Matters
The establishment of these new test sites strengthens the U.S. position in drone technology innovation and commercialization, particularly in BVLOS and autonomous operations. This initiative also enhances national security by prioritizing domestic drone development over foreign competitors like China, while addressing critical applications such as medical supply delivery and infrastructure monitoring.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford today announced two new test sites for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The sites, which will be located in The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Indiana Economic Development Corporation, are the first new UAS testing grounds in nearly a decade.
The UAS Test Site program supports development, testing, and evaluation of public and civil unmanned aircraft and related technologies and helps advance the safe integration of drones into the National Airspace System. In August, Secretary Duffy unveiled a new proposed Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rule to significantly expand the use-case for drone technologies.
“From delivering lifesaving medicine to surveying pipelines, drones are already reshaping industries and changing how people and products interact. It’s our job to make sure the United States safely leads the way with this exciting technology – not China,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We’ve added these new test sites to help us gather critical data and test new systems so we can safely unleash innovation in our skies.”
“These test sites help the U.S. assess emerging technologies to modernize methods for cargo delivery, Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations and multiple drone operations while informing safety and security,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “Together, we will usher in the safe commercialization of drone technologies and fully integrate UAS into our NAS.”
This announcement delivers on President Trump’s Executive Order “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” to enhance United States productivity, create high-skilled jobs, and reshape the future of aviation.
“The Trump Administration is ensuring Indian country doesn’t get left behind in its efforts to bring in the Golden Age of Transportation. These new technologies can save lives on reservations with useful practices including the transportation of medical supplies to far reaching corners of these tribal lands. Under President Trump and Secretary Duffy, USDOT is redefining how transportation shapes the daily lives of Americans,” said Assistant Secretary of Tribal Government Affairs James A. Crawford.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Indiana Economic Development Corporation test sites will become the eighth and ninth test sites in the U.S. The first seven UAS Test Site locations include:
The FAA UAS Test Sites will support the development, testing, and scaling of American drone technologies, with a focus on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, increasingly autonomous operations, advanced air mobility, and other advanced operations. The nine sites will facilitate the safe commercialization of drone technologies, advance the full integration of UAS into the NAS, and help reshape the future of aviation.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 authorizes the Administrator to designate up to two new UAS test ranges.
More information on the UAS Test Site Program and its research activities is available online.
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