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As part of the effort to create a region-wide COE for Unmanned Systems, SDMAC and EDC are coordinating efforts to have Southern California designated as a UAS Test Site by the FAA. FAA UAV Test Site Designation The FAA has issued a Screening for Information Request (SIR), which is similar to a Request for Proposal (RFP), to designate six UAV test sites across the Continental United States to integrate Unmanned Air Systems into U.S. National Airspace. SDMAC and EDC coordinated a San Diego coalition of SDMAC, EDC, AUVSI, Imperial Valley EDC, County of Imperial, Holtville Airport and defense contractors, including Northrup Grumman Corporation, General Atomics, Cubic Corporation, and Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc. This coalition joined an already established entity called California Unmanned Air Systems Portal (Cal UAS Portal), which is based in Indian Wells, to create a proposed UAV Test Site that would extend from the NAS China Lake/Edwards Air Force Area, west to the ocean, south to the Mexican border and east to the Arizona border. The proposed test range region is geographically diverse and includes airspace over mountains, high and low desert, an international border region and the ocean. It would provide the UAS industry with an easily accessible testing range. By creating the ecosystems where UAS developers have easy access to the ranges, coupled with all the other benefits the area has, the region stands to benefit through job growth and other economic drivers. ###