Notice and Opportunity to Comment on Requests for Consistency Agreement/Concurrence Under the Texas Coastal Management Program
On January 10, 1997, the State of Texas received federal approval of the Coastal Management Program (CMP) (62 Federal Register pp. 1439 - 1440). Under federal law, federal agency activities and actions affecting the Texas coastal zone must be consistent with the CMP goals and policies identified in 31 TAC Chapter 26. Requests for federal consistency review were deemed administratively complete for the following project(s) during the period of June 8, 2026 to June 12, 2026. As required by federal law, the public is given an opportunity to comment on the consistency of proposed activities in the coastal zone undertaken or authorized by federal agencies. Pursuant to 31 TAC §§30.20(f), 30.30(h), and 30.40(e), the public comment period extends 30 days from the date published on the Texas General Land Office web site. The notice was published on the web site on Friday, June 19, 2026. The public comment period for this project will close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Federal License and Permit Activities:
Applicant: Wing Aviation, LLC
Location: Houston, Harris, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria Counties, Texas
Project Description: Wing is proposing to conduct unmanned aircraft (UA) retail package delivery operations, establishing up to 75 sites in the Houston metro area. Wing’s intent is to offer service throughout the Houston metro area from a network of nests, where each would serve a specific area, thereby avoiding an over-concentration of flights surrounding any given nest. The nests would be located in commercial areas, such as shopping centers, large individual retailers, and shopping malls. Each nest houses up to 24 aircraft and has a delivery range of approximately 6 miles. The proposed action does not involve ground-disturbing activity outside of existing commercial areas and does not include any operations over water.
Two UAs would be primarily used for deliveries: Wing’s Hummingbird 7000W-B and 8000-A. The Hummingbird 7000W-B - multi-rotor design with 16 propellers, weighs under 15 pounds when combined with its maximum payload weight of 2.7 pounds, and has a wingspan of approximately 4.9 feet, a height of approximately 1 foot, and a length of 4 feet. The 8000-A has a multi-rotor design with 12 propellers, weight under 25 pounds when combined with its maximum payload weight of 5 pounds, and has a wingspan of approximately 6 feet, a height of approximately 1 foot, and a length of approximately 6.2 feet. All Wing aircraft use electric power from rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Aircraft batteries are charged wirelessly from nest charging pads where aircraft sit between deliveries. Charging pads are connected to onsite utilities or temporarily to small diesel generators during the development of utility connections. Wing anticipates the Houston metro area fleet makeup would consist of 70 to 80 percent 7000W-B aircraft and 20 to 30 percent 8000-A aircraft.
The UA would generally be operated at an altitude of 150–300 feet above ground level (AGL) and always below an altitude of 400 feet AGL while en route to and from delivery locations. At a delivery location, the UA would descend vertically to a stationary hover at 23 feet AGL and lower a package to the ground by a retractable line for delivery. Once a package has been lowered to the ground, the UA would then retract the line, ascend vertically to a cruise altitude, and depart the delivery area enroute back to a nest.
Wing projects operating a maximum of 400 delivery flights per operating day from each site, with operations initially occurring between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and then extending to 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. In addition, operations would include low altitude (<8 ft) in-nest checkout flights between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. in preparation for the normal operational day which would begin no earlier than 7:00 a.m.
Type of Application: Draft Environmental Assessment to amend Federal Aviation Administration air carrier Operation Specifications authorization.
CMP Project No: 26-1159-F1
Further information on the applications listed above, including a copy of the consistency certifications or consistency determinations for inspection, may be obtained from the Texas General Land Office Public Information Officer at 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, or via email at pialegal@glo.texas.gov. Comments should be sent to the Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Program Coordinator at the above address or via email at federal.consistency@glo.texas.gov