Our mission is to make drone testing accessible to all.
Tulsa, OK — January 21, 2026 — Skyway Range, a UAS test range operated by Osage LLC, today announced the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tulsa Fire Department, formally designating Tulsa Fire as the Champion Operator for the SAFE-T (Secure Autonomy Feedback and Evaluation Testbed) Near-Term Approval Process (NTAP) with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The agreement represents a major milestone in advancing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations for public safety—pairing real-world emergency response operations with SAFE-T’s secure infrastructure to accelerate regulatory approvals and operational deployment.
SAFE-T, developed by meerir and Skyway Range, is a component project of the Tulsa Tech Hub, supporting the region’s mission to enable safe, scalable autonomy through real-world deployment.
“This partnership reflects Skyway Range’s role as a national proving ground for advanced public safety operations,” said Randy Burke, Executive Director of Skyway Range. “By aligning Tulsa Fire Department’s operational leadership with SAFE-T and a structured FAA engagement and approval process, we are building a model that moves beyond testing and into repeatable, authorized operations.”
Under the MOU, Tulsa Fire Department will lead operational use cases, training exercises, and scenario development in support of the FAA NTAP safety case. Skyway Range provides the SAFE-T operational environment and regulatory coordination.
“Serving as Champion Operator allows us to help shape how public safety drone operations evolve nationwide,” said Chief Michael Baker, Tulsa Fire Department. “This collaboration strengthens our emergency response capabilities while contributing to a framework that other cities can follow.”
SAFE-T integrates secure airspace awareness, telemetry, Remote ID, and interoperability services necessary for advanced UAS operations, while maintaining strict separation from municipal data systems and networks. The framework is designed to scale—enabling additional agencies to participate as approvals advance.
“Public safety operators are leading the way in proving what safe autonomy looks like in practice,” said Craig Mahaney, CEO of meerir, the SAFE-T program’s project management lead. “This partnership demonstrates how operator leadership and secure infrastructure can move advanced operations out of theory and into real-world deployment.”
This partnership reinforces the Osage Nation’s leadership in aviation infrastructure development and positions Skyway Range, SAFE-T, and Tulsa Fire Department at the forefront of public safety drone operations.
Skyway Range operates a 1,200-square-mile beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) uncrewed flight test range originally developed in partnership with Osage LLC, Oklahoma State University, and Tulsa Innovation Labs. With 4 droneports and diverse testing conditions in both rural and urban settings, Skyway Range has become a cornerstone of the nation's uncrewed aircraft infrastructure. For more information, visit skywayrange.com.
Osage LLC is a division of the Osage Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribal government with headquarters in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Established in 2008 to build economic prosperity for the Nation and its people, Osage LLC serves as an economic driver for the Osage Nation, identifying and cultivating long-term strategic partnerships that enhance their effectiveness in expanding the economic footprint of the Osage Nation. For more information, visit osagellc.com
About meerir
meerir is an airspace intelligence and autonomy infrastructure company focused on helping communities, operators, and industry partners move advanced aviation technologies into real-world operation. As the lead program manager for SAFE-T, meerir supports the design, integration, and governance of complex, multi-partner systems that enable safe, scalable autonomous operations. For more information visit meerir.com.
About Tulsa Fire Department
The Tulsa Fire Department provides comprehensive fire suppression, emergency medical, rescue, hazardous materials response, and fire prevention services to the City of Tulsa. The department is staffed by trained fire professionals and operates from multiple stations across the city, responding to a high volume of emergency calls each year. In addition to emergency response, the Tulsa Fire Department is committed to fire prevention, public education, and community risk reduction to protect lives and property.
Media Contacts:
Skyway Range/Osage LLC
meerir
Emily Bell
Tulsa Fire Department
Andrew Little