Reliable Robotics and the City of Albuquerque Aviation Department conducted a demonstration flight of a remotely piloted Cessna 208B Caravan at Albuquerque International Sunport last week, according to an FAA announcement issued Monday. The flight tested autonomous cargo delivery operations under the Department of Transportation’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
Regional Cargo Operations
The Albuquerque project is one of eight selected for the federal program, which includes testing autonomous aircraft, air taxis and other advanced aviation technologies. Under the city’s original proposal, Reliable’s subsidiary, Reliable Airlines, plans to operate autonomous cargo flights between Albuquerque and airports in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Durango, Colorado. The demonstration program is intended to provide operational data for future FAA certification and regulatory requirements.
“These demonstrations in Albuquerque help ensure we’re getting things done safely and efficiently,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in the agency’s announcement. “Every test flight provides critical data to help build a system that strengthens our nation’s infrastructure and connect communities.”
Autonomous Flight Testing
“Reliable’s work with the FAA and the City of Albuquerque is building the roadmap for integrating autonomy into high-density airspaces, clearing a major hurdle toward commercial operations,” said Robert Rose, CEO and co-founder of Reliable Robotics.
Reliable’s autonomy system is designed to manage taxi, takeoff, en route flight and landing under remote pilot supervision. The company previously completed an uncrewed Caravan flight in 2023 and conducted additional detect-and-avoid testing earlier this year.
The FAA did not specify whether a safety pilot was aboard during the latest demonstration or provide the flight’s duration. Additional test flights are planned in Albuquerque and at other participating locations through the end of the year.
I am still nervous about this, as no pilot means no peripheral vision to see motion/objects which is essential for ‘see and avoid’ flight. I wonder how long it will take and how many accidents/deaths it will take before the truth be known…AI is still very limited.