FAA UASTS Test Site Selection 2.0

Why This Moment Matters for AAM – and for Michigan

The FAA’s new Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site (UASTS) Selection 2.0 solicitation is more than another federal notice on SAM.gov—it’s a signal of where U.S. drone and AAM integration is headed, and a clear invitation for states and regions to step up.

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Through Screening Information Request 697DCK-26-R-00019, the FAA is launching a competitive process to designate up to two additional UAS test sites on top of the seven already in operation. The test site program, originally created under the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and now codified at 49 U.S.C. § 44803, exists to enable development, testing, and evaluation that supports safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.

What UASTS 2.0 Actually Does

The SIR sets out a two-phase competitive process:

• Phase I: Written proposals due December 1, 2025.

• Phase II: Oral presentations for a down-selected group in mid-December, with final designations anticipated by December 31, 2025.

Eligibility is intentionally narrow: applicants must be SLTT governments or public entities, approved by their chief executive before seeking designation. They must also meet the responsibilities of test range sponsors outlined in 49 U.S.C. § 44803(e).

Key features:

• The award will be an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA).

• No direct FAA funding is included.

• Test sites may enter funded/unfunded agreements with partners.

• Performance runs through September 30, 2028.

How It Connects to Broader Industry & Policy Trends

UASTS 2.0 aligns with recent Executive Orders emphasizing:

• BVLOS and increasingly autonomous operations,

• Protection of critical infrastructure,

• Advanced aviation industrial base development.

This reflects broader industry trends toward digitized airspace, scalable operations, and dual-use civil/military applications.

Why This Is a Strategic Opening for Michigan

Michigan is well positioned due to:

• A strong mobility and manufacturing ecosystem,

• A diverse airport network capable of real-world test environments,

• Active AAM planning through MDOT-AERO, OFME, and FLITE,

• Opportunities to align civil and security objectives.

The solicitation rewards coalition-building—an area where Michigan’s cross-sector partnerships can stand out.

What Airports and Local Leaders Should Take Away

• The federal government is accelerating integrated drone/AAM activity.

• Test ranges will shape national standards and deployment models.

• Success will favor regions with clear strategies, strong partnerships, and coordinated readiness.

For Michigan, the question is less “Can we participate?” and more “How do we structure ourselves to lead?”

How to Engage — Positioning Michigan for Success

Even if an organization is not pursuing a full UASTS designation, the structure of this solicitation provides a clear roadmap for how industry partners, airports, universities, municipalities, and state agencies can engage in ways that strengthen Michigan’s position.

Airports can:

• Identify real-world test environments.

• Document operational needs and constraints.

• Offer themselves as mission-specific test nodes.

• Engage early with MDOT-AERO and OFME.

Industry can:

• Signal interest in partnering with a Michigan-led test site.

• Identify R&D needs tied to FAA priorities.

• Provide letters of interest or partnership concepts.

• Highlight dual-use (civil + security) applications.

Universities can:

• Offer research, data analysis, and engineering support.

• Develop research agendas aligned with FAA focus areas.

State agencies can:

• Convene a statewide coordination table.

• Align mobility and innovation assets.

• Identify the appropriate public entity to serve as sponsor.

• Provide match-aligned or braided funding support.

Municipalities and regions can:

• Support corridors or test environments within their jurisdiction.

• Provide land-use clarity and public safety partnerships.

• Align local economic development goals with AAM objectives.

Michigan positions itself best by:

• Establishing a core planning group.

• Mapping candidate test environments.

• Drafting a unified statewide narrative.

• Demonstrating OTA-ready partnership capacity.