FAA, Reliable Robotics Agree on Testing Criteria for Automated Aircraft System

The firm intends to retrofit Cessna 208B Caravans and other aircraft with technology that reduces pilot-induced accidents.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 02:46 PM ET

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Reliable Robotics completed the first flight of a remotely piloted Cessna Caravan with no one on board in December. [Courtesy: Reliable Robotics]

Key Takeaways:

Reliable Robotics has achieved a significant regulatory milestone with the FAA's acceptance of requirements for its advanced automated navigation and autopilot systems, which are designed to automate all phases of flight.
These systems, retrofitting Cessna 208B Caravans, aim to enhance flight safety by reducing pilot error and were demonstrated in December with the industry's first uncrewed cargo flight.
The FAA's acceptance of compliance requirements is a critical step in the certification process, paving the way for broader autonomous cargo operations that initially supplement an onboard pilot, with the technology also designed for future application across various aircraft models.

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A company that retrofits Cessna 208B Caravans with automated systems—and which flew the first such aircraft with no one on board in December—announced the FAA has accepted the requirements for its advanced aircraft navigation and autopilot systems, which help automate all phases of flight from taxi to takeoff and landing.

Reliable Robotics, which completed the landmark flight using its remotely operated aircraft system (ROAS), claims to be the first in the industry to agree on a testing and analysis campaign for these systems with the FAA. The company will demonstrate how its ROAS aligns with the regulator’s safety and performance requirements for operations in the contiguous U.S. and Alaska.