The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will begin a new round of drone detection testing near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, from June 16 to 27, the agency announced in a recent statement. The tests aim to assess detection technologies’ performance in a hot, arid climate while ensuring they do not interfere with aircraft navigation systems.
The FAA will operate multiple large drones and approximately 100 commercial off-the-shelf drones across areas of the desert and near the old Rio Grande Speedway. Testing will occur only on weekdays during daylight hours.
Public Drone Activity Strongly Discouraged
The FAA has issued a public advisory urging recreational drone operators to avoid flying in or near the test zones throughout the two-week period.
“This is part of our ongoing effort to understand how best to identify unauthorized drones and ensure safety in U.S. airspace,” the agency stated.
Part of a Broader Testing Campaign
This New Mexico operation marks the third in a series of off-airport drone detection tests conducted by the FAA. Previous tests were held in Alaska and Cape May, New Jersey, while additional assessments are scheduled later this year in North Dakota and Mississippi.
The agency selected Santa Teresa for its hot and arid conditions, which help simulate environments where drone detection systems may face different operational challenges.
A Growing Need for Drone Oversight
The FAA emphasized the growing need for detection technologies, citing a surge in drone sightings near sensitive areas.
“The FAA receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, and we want to send a clear message that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters, and airports is dangerous and illegal,” the agency said.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
Testing is being conducted by the FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research, in cooperation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Doña Ana County International Jetport, and local and state emergency response teams. This collaborative effort is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of drone detection systems across various platforms and agencies.
As the FAA works to expand safe and secure integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into national airspace, these detection trials are seen as critical steps toward developing policy, enforcement, and technological standards.
The agency continues to warn drone operators of legal consequences for flying in restricted airspace and encourages public awareness to ensure safety for both manned and unmanned aircraft.
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