FAA Tests Drone Detection Systems After NJ Fiasco
The Federal Aviation Administration has begun evaluating drone detection systems in New Jersey following a surge in unidentified drone activity late last year, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on April 16, 2025. The agency will conduct tests from April 14 to 25 in the waters near Cape May’s ferry terminal, deploying more than 100 commercial off‑the‑shelf drones alongside advanced sensors to ensure that small unmanned aircraft are accurately identified and tracked before posing a risk to manned flights.
Secretary Duffy invoked the widely publicized “drone fiasco” of November 2024, when multiple drone sightings disrupted airspace over New Jersey and other East Coast states—incidents that prompted public concern after the Biden administration declined to disclose who was operating the devices. “Pilots and passengers were left in the dark,” Duffy said on social media platform X, pledging that the current administration under President Trump would practice “radical transparency” by keeping the public informed about FAA activities and test results.
During weekday daytime hours, FAA teams will position detection equipment on barges and support vessels close to the shore, coordinating closely with local law enforcement and community leaders who have already been briefed on the schedule. The agency aims to refine its ability to distinguish between legitimate recreational drones and those flying without authorization or posing security threats. Data collected during this New Jersey deployment will guide improvements to the FAA’s nationwide counter‑drone strategy.
These Cape May trials build on years of testing at major airports, where the FAA has evaluated radar, radio frequency and optical systems designed to protect controlled airspace. The New Jersey exercise marks the first time the agency has carried out extended off‑airport testing in the continental United States since conducting similar trials in Alaska. Additional off‑airport test sites are slated for New Mexico, North Dakota and Mississippi later in 2025, reflecting the FAA’s commitment to broadening its detection footprint beyond airport perimeters.
In conjunction with deploying drones for simulation and system validation, the FAA will assess cybersecurity protocols and data‑sharing capabilities among federal, state and local partners. The goal is to build a resilient network of sensors that can provide real‑time alerts to air traffic controllers and law enforcement agencies, preventing drone incursions from interfering with passenger jets, helicopters and other civil aircraft.
Last December, facing escalating drone encounters near critical infrastructure, the FAA imposed a temporary ban on most unmanned flights over 20 cities in New Jersey and New York. That prohibition, in effect from December 18, 2024, through January 17, 2025, underscored the urgent need for more robust detection and deterrence measures. With the Cape May tests, officials hope to demonstrate measurable progress in identifying rogue drones and enabling rapid response when unauthorized operations are detected.
As domestic and international drone traffic continues to grow, regulators are under pressure to balance innovation in unmanned aviation with the safety of manned aircraft. The results from the New Jersey trials will inform future regulations and the expansion of the NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) system to include automated drone alerts. By sharing findings with industry stakeholders and the public, the FAA seeks to restore confidence in the nation’s airspace security and prevent a repeat of last year’s high‑profile incidents.
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