Senators question UAS testing pause
By Terry Murry on Friday, October 2nd, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s delegation to the U.S. Senate are asking the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford and Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Director Catherine Cahill to explain the FAA’s order to pause testing at the University of Alaska Fairbanks UAS test site.
Operations at the Pendleton UAS Range as well as test ranges in McMinnville and Tillamook also had to pause testing, since they are under the aegis of the University of Alaska’s program. Many other test ranges in the western United States also operate under that program.
The pause order was issued on Sept. 11 and is still in effect according to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).
“While we understand that the pause was necessary due to the FAA’s concerns regarding safety practices, oversight, and documentation, the situation has disrupted flight activity at all other test sites that operate under the University of Alaska Fairbanks,” the letter states. “In Oregon, this pause delays testing and development for aerospace and defense contractors, federal customers, and commercial UAS companies who operate at the Pendleton UAS Range, Northwest UAV in McMinnville, and Tillamook UAS Test Range.”
The letter also noted that the pause is causing significant uncertainty for Oregon communities. For example, the senators wrote, the Pendleton UAS Range generates roughly $2.4 million annually for the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport which is roughly 82 percent of the airport’s total revenue.
The senators have asked for a response by Wednesday.
