Miloch
August 26th 20, 10:18 PM
https://www.flyingmag.com/story/news/xwing-flies-cessna-caravan-autonomously/
Company sees a future for autonomous cargo flights.
After operating in stealth mode for the last four years, San Francisco-based
Xwing said in a news release last week it has carried out a number of
passenger-carrying flights from takeoff to landing using a Cessna 208B Grand
Caravan. Xwing’s Autoflight System retrofits existing aircraft into optionally
piloted vehicles, “by integrating with onboard flight control systems that allow
the aircraft to navigate, take off and land autonomously, ensuring more
cost-effective operations for logistic companies.” The system is designed to be
supervised by remote operators who work with air traffic controllers to ensure
safety throughout the flight.
Xwing says it has completed a large volume of testing on its Caravan with
thousands of simulation runs, software system tests, and flight tests that
include low and high-speed ground taxi tests, takeoffs, navigation in the
airspace, detect-and-avoid tests, and landings. Since July, Xwing has completed
more than 70 hours of engine time for ground and flight tests, and more than 40
hours of automated flight time.
Xwing says it has obtained a Part 135 Air Carrier certificate and wants to begin
commercial cargo flight operations in the coming months. Xwing expects to deploy
its technology to market more quickly by operating its own fleet, but it’s open
to future partnership and licensing opportunities with other operators to make
the technology more widely available. The company says its business model
increases aircraft operator utilization by 3 times, equating to a 20 to 30
percent cost savings in for the $142.4B US air cargo transportation market.
*
Company sees a future for autonomous cargo flights.
After operating in stealth mode for the last four years, San Francisco-based
Xwing said in a news release last week it has carried out a number of
passenger-carrying flights from takeoff to landing using a Cessna 208B Grand
Caravan. Xwing’s Autoflight System retrofits existing aircraft into optionally
piloted vehicles, “by integrating with onboard flight control systems that allow
the aircraft to navigate, take off and land autonomously, ensuring more
cost-effective operations for logistic companies.” The system is designed to be
supervised by remote operators who work with air traffic controllers to ensure
safety throughout the flight.
Xwing says it has completed a large volume of testing on its Caravan with
thousands of simulation runs, software system tests, and flight tests that
include low and high-speed ground taxi tests, takeoffs, navigation in the
airspace, detect-and-avoid tests, and landings. Since July, Xwing has completed
more than 70 hours of engine time for ground and flight tests, and more than 40
hours of automated flight time.
Xwing says it has obtained a Part 135 Air Carrier certificate and wants to begin
commercial cargo flight operations in the coming months. Xwing expects to deploy
its technology to market more quickly by operating its own fleet, but it’s open
to future partnership and licensing opportunities with other operators to make
the technology more widely available. The company says its business model
increases aircraft operator utilization by 3 times, equating to a 20 to 30
percent cost savings in for the $142.4B US air cargo transportation market.
*