New Mexico State University

The New Mexico UAS Flight Test Site (UAS FTS) was formed through a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and New Mexico State University partnership to ensure the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System. Their main goal is to gather data during unmanned flights in public airspace, assisting the FAA in setting comprehensive UAS safety standards and policy. Based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the NM UAS FTS has over two decades of experience conducting flight tests for various UAS, sensor systems, and payloads. Research includes Detect and Avoid (DAA) and Beyond Visual Line of Site (BVLOS), Human Factors, Disaster Preparedness and Response, Systems and new vehicle validation flights and STEM outreach.

Operating under various FAA Certificate of Authorizations (COA’s), the UAS FTS conducts UAS flight operations nationwide to 1,200 ft and up to 10,000 ft in over 15,000 sq. miles of Class G airspace in southwestern New Mexico. This area features minimal aviation traffic and mostly undeveloped government-owned land, providing an ideal safe and controlled testing environment. Additionally, the NM UAS FTS supports high altitude flights beyond 60,000 feet, facilitating comprehensive assessments of UAS performance in challenging conditions. Leveraging our specialized facilities and vast airspace access, the NM UAS FTS continues to shape the future of unmanned aircraft systems in the National Airspace System.