First aerial delivery drone granted design approval by FAA
US aviation regulators approved designs for the first flying drone built specifically for shipping packages, a major step forward for the fledgling remote delivery industry. Matternet Inc.’s Model M2, a four-rotor copter capable of carrying a 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) package, is considered safe and reliable, the FAA said Wednesday. Winning regulatory permission for aeronautical designs is one of the major hurdles required before the devices can operate routinely for commercial operations. “It is an important milestone in the FAA’s support for the development of innovative drone technology,” the FAA said. Other restrictions remain before package delivery by aerial drone becomes widespread, such as the need for a low-altitude air-traffic system and rules to allow automated flights. But FAA approval shows the technology is maturing and the agency considers this new type of rotor-powered vehicle to have the equivalent reliability of traditional aircraft. The FAA action, known as a type certificate, is the first granted for an unpiloted vehicle since drones began to be more widely used almost a decade ago. The agency had only given restricted approvals for drone designs in the past. <br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-09-08/general/first-aerial-delivery-drone-granted-design-approval-by-faa
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First aerial delivery drone granted design approval by FAA
US aviation regulators approved designs for the first flying drone built specifically for shipping packages, a major step forward for the fledgling remote delivery industry. Matternet Inc.’s Model M2, a four-rotor copter capable of carrying a 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) package, is considered safe and reliable, the FAA said Wednesday. Winning regulatory permission for aeronautical designs is one of the major hurdles required before the devices can operate routinely for commercial operations. “It is an important milestone in the FAA’s support for the development of innovative drone technology,” the FAA said. Other restrictions remain before package delivery by aerial drone becomes widespread, such as the need for a low-altitude air-traffic system and rules to allow automated flights. But FAA approval shows the technology is maturing and the agency considers this new type of rotor-powered vehicle to have the equivalent reliability of traditional aircraft. The FAA action, known as a type certificate, is the first granted for an unpiloted vehicle since drones began to be more widely used almost a decade ago. The agency had only given restricted approvals for drone designs in the past. <br/>
