Kea Aerospace achieves milestone in autonomous flight
Friday 12 Jul 2024
Kea Aerospace has successfully completed a landmark BVLOS (Beyond Visual
Line of Sight) flight, demonstrating the capabilities of their advanced
autonomous flight technology. The milestone UAS (Unmanned Aircraft
System) flight, conducted within Kea Aerospace's Special Use Airspace,
marks significant growth in the field of UAVs in New Zealand.
The mission commenced with Kea Aerospace’s R6 unmanned aircraft
launching from the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre. It soared to an
altitude of 3,000 feet and covered a significant distance of 5
kilometres over the picturesque Kaitorete Spit. This mission was not
just a single flight but a series of three fully autonomous flights,
each executed with accuracy and reliability.
Throughout the entirety of the mission, Kea Aerospace maintained a
stable radio command and control link, underscoring the robustness of
their communication systems. This successful operation is a testament to
the tireless efforts of their dedicated team and the advanced
technological capabilities of our aircraft.
Mark Rocket, CEO of Kea Aerospace, expressed his enthusiasm for this
achievement: "Today's successful BVLOS flight is a huge step forward
for Kea Aerospace and the broader field of unmanned aerial systems in
New Zealand. Our ability to perform these flights autonomously, with
stable communication throughout, showcases the exceptional potential of
our technology. We are incredibly proud of our team and the ground-breaking work they are doing."
Kea Aerospace's pioneering advancements in autonomous flight technology
continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. This successful
mission paves the way for future innovations and applications in various
sectors, from environmental monitoring to disaster response. Upcoming
flights this year will progress to a 15-kilometre range from the take-off location and then extend to a range of over 100 kilometres.
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