Xwing Says The Future of Air Transportation Is Autonomous, But How Close Is That Future?

FLYING speaks with the company’s product lead to get a look at its roadmap.

Michael Wildes

Thursday, April 07, 2022 at 10:15 AM ET

Verified

The Xwing staff working on one of its aircraft. [Courtesy: Xwing]

Key Takeaways:

Xwing has developed and demonstrated autonomous flight technology for existing aircraft, successfully completing full flight phases (taxi, takeoff, land, return) with a Cessna Caravan, supervised remotely.
The company's strategy focuses on introducing autonomous regional air mobility (RAM) initially through the air cargo market, aiming to deliver significant cost savings (20-30%), triple aircraft utilization, and address the pilot shortage.
Xwing emphasizes a pragmatic, safety-first approach by working closely with regulators, starting with cargo, and using advanced sensors for situational awareness, with a remote operator maintaining full control.
Future development priorities include enhancing sensor technology for all weather conditions, establishing seamless communication with Air Traffic Control without an onboard pilot, and securing further FAA approvals for revenue operations.

See a mistake? Contact us.

In February 2021, social media came abuzz when the startup company Xwing released footage of its experimental Cessna 208B Grand Caravan exiting its hangar at Buchanan Field in Concord, California, which then taxied, departed, landed, and taxied back to the hangar entirely on its own.

The video shows an overseeing pilot on board, who was only there to comply with regulatory requirements, and transfer flight controls to Xwing’s Mission Control Center that was remotely located on the field.