The future of urban aviation isn't just about flying taxis or delivery drones — it's about the invisible systems that make them safe, scalable, and trusted. How do we integrate uncrewed systems with commercial flights, military aircraft, and emergency responders; and who is actually building the infrastructure that will make it all possible?
NUAIR has a few answers. The New York-based nonprofit is one of the leading forces behind operationalising beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights at scale, which is especially true given their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved 450-square-mile operational area – with over 6,000 flights completed in controlled and uncontrolled airspace. Their live-tested digital infrastructure is shaping global approaches to air traffic management for drones and advanced air mobility (AAM).
To uncover these and more insights, Eszter Kovács, DroneTalks’ Co-founder and CEO, sat down with Ken Stewart, President and CEO of NUAIR, as he explored their work with the FAA, NASA, and the Department of Defense, and why countries like Saudi Arabia and Australia are now looking to replicate their model. From defence readiness to hospital deliveries and the digitisation of New York City airspace, this discussion covered it all.
Enabling the next generation of aviation: What is NUAIR?
NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance) was established by the State of New York with a clear mission: to unlock the economic potential of drones and AAM for the region. Originally tasked with managing an FAA unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test site, NUAIR has since shifted focus to commercial enablement through its Center of Excellence for Advanced Air Mobility.
"For 10 years NUAIR managed the FAA designated UAS test site here in Central New York, and about two years ago we moved away from managing the test site to establishing and operating the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Air Mobility at the Syracuse International Airport,” Ken elaborated.
As he explained, NUAIR was created by the state of New York to open and maximize the drone economy for New York state.
This pivot allowed NUAIR to engage more directly with industry players, focusing on what really matters: creating a repeatable, scalable system for drone integration. The Center of Excellence now serves as a one-stop resource for technology validation, infrastructure integration, and regulatory collaboration. It's about solving for the vast expanse of low altitude U.S. airspace that is not actively controlled by traditional air traffic control — what Ken calls the "other 98%."
"If we look at, say, under 8-10,000 feet; the FAA only actively manage aircraft in and around airports, which means about 98% of the United States is not actively managed in terms of air traffic but rather managed through rules and regulation," he explained.
With this insight, NUAIR is positioning itself as the organisation best placed to support the integration of uncrewed systems into real-world environments.
A landmark FAA-approved BVLOS corridor
One of NUAIR’s most groundbreaking achievements is the expansion of its FAA-approved BVLOS airspace to 450 square miles in Central New York. This includes Syracuse International Airport, where NUAIR has facilitated more than 6,000 safe BVLOS flights in and around its airspace — an unparalleled figure within the U.S.
This airspace is not a testing ground; it's a dual-use operational area enabling coordination with local air traffic control (ATC), industry partners, and regulators. It allows NUAIR to support real-world applications such as healthcare logistics, defence testing, and commercial drone delivery. These lessons feed directly into the FAA’s rulemaking processes, particularly around enabling safe BVLOS operations at scale.
The scale and frequency of operations make this area a vital asset in building the future of drone-enabled services. By offering a unique combination of high-density population coverage and a mix of commercial, military, and uncrewed operations, NUAIR is establishing a model for urban and suburban airspace management across the country.
From vertiports to defence: A systems approach to infrastructure
NUAIR's infrastructure isn’t just extensive — it’s deeply integrated. Through its NUAIR Alliance, the organisation collaborates with leading tech providers such as Hidden Level, Aloft, and more, with the mission to form a system-of-systems approach to uncrewed traffic management (UTM).
"We have the NUAIR Alliance that is made-up of partners like SRC, a radar manufacturer, Hidden Level, a counter UAS passive RF sensor, and Aloft, creating a UTM perspective that we can bring up with a single pane of glass to see all that information presented on a screen," elaborated Ken.
This collective is key to what NUAIR calls its "Zero Conflict Area," where both crewed and uncrewed aircraft are deconflicted in real-time, ensuring safe coexistence within shared airspace.
"We ensure that drones do not conflict with manned aircraft, and we've integrated all those systems along with a partner of ours who provides health and assurance," Ken noted.
This approach provides a level of safety and oversight necessary for scalable urban air mobility. It also reflects NUAIR's commitment to creating a system where operational integrity is continuously monitored, faults are automatically flagged, and data flows in a manner that meets FAA expectations for a Surveillance Infrastructure Provider.
NUAIR Defense: Accelerating dual-use innovation
NUAIR Defense is a new initiative, launched earlier this year, supporting military and dual-use innovative technology testing for drones and UAS systems. The team delivers rapid, verified testing environments that help companies working with the U.S. Department of Defense bring validated solutions to market.
"We do the verification and validation of critical defence components. As an example, we had the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) come here November of last year, right around Thanksgiving, and they wanted to be able to test 9 UAS (...) and with a week's notice, we were able to get all nine of those aircraft tested over five days," Ken explained.
These types of agile operations are rarely possible on traditional military installations, where bureaucracy and time constraints often impede rapid testing. The infrastructure and expertise NUAIR provides helps bridge that gap, enabling faster iteration and deployment.
In fact, the capabilities offered by NUAIR Defense go far beyond flight testing. The program includes complete systems-of-systems validation: integrating telemetry from both aircraft and ground-based sensors, real-time monitoring of system health, and ensuring alignment with mission-critical requirements. NUAIR’s infrastructure is fully compliant with NASA’s notional UTM architecture, making it a scalable and interoperable model for tactical and strategic defence deployments.
What makes NUAIR Defense truly stand out is its ability to provide turnkey support at operational tempo. Unlike traditional test ranges that are often bureaucratically constrained, NUAIR delivers an environment where readiness can be proven quickly and reliably. This responsiveness is critical for programmes like those run by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), AFWERX, and other rapid acquisition units seeking commercial innovation that can be rapidly fielded.
This expansion into defence also benefits the wider ecosystem. The infrastructure created to serve military needs is also available to commercial drone operators, emergency services, and public agencies who require the same level of security, safety, and reliability.
NUAIR Defense is not just a new department — it’s a real-world solution for accelerating defence readiness in a rapidly evolving aerial landscape.
Lessons learned from BVLOS: People, processes, and policy
While regulatory progress is key, Ken emphasised that BVLOS success depends on more than technology.
"To make BVLOS work, it wasn't only about certifying pilots and aircraft, but rather it's about the associated elements. How do you take all the components that enable this beyond visual line of sight and combine them to work together in a way that meets the FAA requirements or rather how do you help them decide what the requirements are," he explained.
NUAIR’s team includes experts in radar, spectrum, telecommunications, safety management systems, and airworthiness. It's this collective intelligence that has made the scale and safety of their operations possible.
"It's about taking those capabilities and bringing together that collective thought of what safety of the national airspace is," Ken emphasised.
Their results demonstrate that it is this mix of expertise, not just equipment, that makes BVLOS a safe and scalable reality. NUAIR’s continued partnership with the FAA helps shape not only waivers but the underlying architecture for future regulatory frameworks.
Public-private partnerships: A model for sustainable AAM & UTM growth
When asked about the future of infrastructure and regulation, Ken highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships.
"Once we get NTAP completed... we can start working with the military with a turnkey component and we can start working with Part 135 operators for delivery. That's how we see this evolving public private partnership model," he said.
He compared it to toll roads in the U.S., where private companies build the infrastructure and recoup investment over time while governments maintain oversight.
"States like toll roads because they don't have to put the investment out there. Private companies come in and they put the billion dollars up to go build these roads. Then they get the annuity and the revenue off of these every time a car comes on it," Ken added.
This model offers a path forward where innovation is incentivised, and infrastructure is deployed at scale without waiting for slow-moving public procurement. For drone corridors, delivery zones, and vertiport integration, the toll-road model provides a compelling precedent.
What’s next for NUAIR?
NUAIR’s influence is growing globally. The organisation has already advised stakeholders in Canada, Australia, and Saudi Arabia on how to replicate their model.
"What they've really looked at is (...) ‘how do we take what you’ve done, and have you help us accelerate it? Because we don't want to spend 12 years learning what you learned.’," he exemplified.
NUAIR is also collaborating with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to simulate AAM traffic using a digital twin of New York City airspace.
"We have a whole integrated live virtual constructive where we show different eVTOL aircraft flying in New York City with live traffic. We've created a digital twin of the city with real traffic and projected potential routes that we created for the New York Port Authority," Ken explained.
As interest grows and momentum builds, NUAIR is positioned to lead both nationally and internationally in enabling advanced air mobility. With continued investment in digital infrastructure, defence readiness, and policy collaboration, NUAIR is helping to build the future of aviation from the ground up.
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