As per report a cargo plane recently completed its first successful flight without the presence of a pilot or any other crew, resulting in a “monumental aviation achievement." A Cessna 208B Caravan took off from Hollister Municipal airport in San Benito County, California, on november 21, 2023. According to AirNav.com, over 150 flights depart from the airport daily; this one was unique in that the cargo plane had no pilot on board. The total flight time was approximately 12 minutes, with the plane flying in a circle and then returning to the airport.
As per Unilad.com, Textron Aviation Inc. designed and built the plane in collaboration with aircraft automation company Reliable Robotics, which announced the ‘significant milestone’ on december 6, calling it a “first for aviation." The autonomation system for the aircraft was supplied by the company located in Mountain View, California.
Furthermore, Reliable Robots has also been working with the US air Force on remote piloting since 2021 and is a member of global aviation services company ASL Aviation Holdings’ CargoVision forum, which investigates new aviation technologies.
Despite the absence of a pilot on board, a remote pilot was present to provide supervision from ‘Reliable’s control centre located 50 miles away,’ as stated by the company in a press release published by business Wire. The CEO of Reliable Robotics, Robert Rose, told the san francisco Chronicle that, as far as he is aware, the cargo plane’s successful unpiloted flight is the first of its kind for a private company the military is already using unmanned aircraft systems.
According to Reliable Robotics, ‘fully automating the aircraft through all phases of operation including taxi, takeoff, and landing’ enhances safety in such an aircraft. Meanwhile, the CEO and co-founder of Reliable Robotics, Robert Rose, told forbes that, unlike some other remote operations, the remote pilot is given a menu of “valid, safe options and must choose from these options: instead of a joystick or other controls that allow for hand-flying the aircraft.
To find safe, adaptable, and affordable solutions for anything from military use to cargo transportation, a number of companies are reportedly investigating the potential of remotely operated and autonomous flight.
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