Antenna tower · 2026
Sentinel Node C
Worcester, MA · near Worcester Rgnl (0.5 mi)
What this outcome means
The FAA sent the case back to the filer rather than issuing a determination. This is the most common non-clean outcome and usually means something has to change or be supplied before the study can finish — not that the project was refused.
The proposal, in the filer's words
"Worcester Regional Airport is applying to deploy a self contained drone detection solution in order to detect unlawful drone activity in and round the airfield to increase safety and security. In addition to drone the system will detect track and classify moving objects on the runway including wildlife birds planes and vehicles.\nSentinel is a non-emitting multi-sensor detection system fusing radiofrequency acoustic and electro-optical sensors. The system uses electro-optical and radiofrequency detection to locate and track moving objects while using acoustic and electro-optical to classify the object type (a DJI drone vs. a crow). With radiofrequency sensors the system passively analyses the unrestricted RF spectrum to identify drones based on publicly broadcasted communication protocols without intercepting or demodulating any encrypted/unencrypted signals and therefore\ncompliant with Title 18.\nThe installation of this drone system is relatively simple and is expected to take 25 minutes per location. The sensors will be mounted on a rooftop mounting system that provides weights to ensure the system is securely locked in place. The mountain system consists of grounded weights with a 10ft pole with the device station on top. All locations have been surveyed and are suitable for this deployment: no construction is required is required the sensors are low=alteration additions to existing infrastructure and unobtrusive. There are no overhead lines being installed.\nBecause there are no existing comms for the devices to hardwire into this project requires the use of a low-power unlicensed data radio operating in the 902–928 MHz ISM band (FCC Part 15 compliant).\n\nThe goal of this project is to automate the collection of truth data regarding drone and other moving object activity near runways leading to greater domain awareness and runway safety.\nThe software will alert operators to drone and object detection automatically: operators can customize which objects they want to be alerted to. The software will generate a summary report of all detected drone activity around Worcester Regional Airport which will be delivered via email on a weekly basis. The data will include:\n Quantity of drones detected\n Types of drones detected (manufacturer)\n Time of day drones were detected\n Day of the week drones were detected\n Length drone detection (minutes)\n Heatmap of general flight location\nThis information can be shared with the FAA at any point and will provide insight into the magnitude of the risk that drones present to airports throughout the U.S.\nThis will be an ongoing project and the data can be downloaded shared and reviewed on request."
Filing details
- Case number (ASN)
- 2026-ANE-144-NRA
- Structure
- Sentinel Node C
- Type
- Tower / antenna
- Category
- Antenna tower
- Height above ground
- 10 ft
- Height above sea level
- 1,015 ft
- Site elevation
- 1,005 ft
- Notice of
- New Construction
- Duration
- Permanent
- Marking & lighting
- —
Timeline
- Filed
- February 10, 2026
- Determined
- July 27, 2026
- Determination expires
- January 27, 2028
A determination that lapses before the structure is built has to be re-filed. The FAA does not send a reminder.
Who filed it
- Sponsor
- Massachusetts Port Authority Worcester Reg.Airport
- Representative
- Thalrix
Names are shown as they appear in the FAA's public record. How we handle names
Location
- Coordinates
- 42.274100, -71.876353
- Degrees / minutes / seconds
- 42°16'26.8"N 71°52'34.9"W
- County
- Worcester
- Open in a map
- Google MapsOpenStreetMap
Other filings within 5 miles
Organisation-sponsored 2026 filings whose coordinates sit near this one.
About this record
This page is a readable copy of a public record published by the FAA's Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis system. It is not the official record and may lag it. For the authoritative case status, search this ASN at the FAA's OE/AAA portal. If something here is wrong, email support@idea-engine.studio and we will correct it.
Source: FAA Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA) public archive (oeaaa.faa.gov), data as of September 12, 2026. Compiled by LOS Analyzer (Idea Engine LLC). This is not an official FAA record or an FAA determination; the FAA's portal is authoritative. LOS Analyzer is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA.
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