Syracuse’s Hancock Airport has been selected to participate in a test of next generation aircraft technologies. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration said the program is part of an initiative to safely integrate new aircraft into the nation’s aviation system.
It will test such things as electric and hybrid aircraft, aircraft that perform vertical takeoff and landing, along with new types of transportation that includes shorter regional flights and cargo delivery. Testing, demonstrations and operational evaluations will be part of the process.
Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Executive Director Jason Terreri said it's a significant opportunity for the airport and Central New York.
"Being part of this national initiative reinforces Syracuse Airport’s role as a platform for innovation in aviation," he said in a press release. "Programs like this drive regional economic development, attract new investment, and help position our community at the forefront of the next generation of aerospace technology.”
The airport will serve as an operational hub for testing and research that will inform how advanced aircraft are certified, operated, and integrated into communities across the United States.
