Picente Calls for UAS Collaboration with Amazon

Urges State Leaders to Facilitate Upstate Downstate Partnership

In light of Amazon’s future headquarters in New York City, Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. has called for a collaboration between Amazon and the county’s nation-leading Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site at Griffiss International Airport.

In letters to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill DeBlasio, Picente urged the leaders to help facilitate a partnership between Amazon’s downstate interests and upstate communities, particularly with Oneida County’s cutting edge UAS research and development.

“In Oneida County there is a natural fit that I believe must be explored between all parties,” Picente said in the letter. “Amazon has been clear they intend to be a leader in developing an unmanned aerial vehicle fleet that would revolutionize package delivery. The best place in the nation to do just that is in the City of Rome.”

Picente’s letter can be read in its entirety here.