Kaitorete Spit

First-of-its-Kind Flight Trials Integrate Uncrewed Aircraft Into Controlled Airspace

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 4, 2023
Public Transport, Automotive, Air, Transport, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Transportation, Autonomous Driving, Vehicles, Travel, Aircraft, Airways New Zealand, Safety, Airways International, UTM, Advanced Air Mobility, Multimedia, Civil aviation, AAM, CAA, Unmanned aerial vehicle, Part, AITP, Digital, RPA, Partnership, Air Operations Branch, Aviation, Air traffic service, Aviation safety, Estonian Air Navigation Services, Wisk Aero, Airway, Airline, Wisk, Kaitorete Spit

The successful completion of these trial test flights in New Zealand demonstrates that safe, uncrewed flight operations are possible, today, in controlled airspace among other piloted aircraft.

Key Points: 
  • The successful completion of these trial test flights in New Zealand demonstrates that safe, uncrewed flight operations are possible, today, in controlled airspace among other piloted aircraft.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231204323308/en/
    Through this trial program, the partnership has established a safe process for uncrewed aircraft to access controlled airspace and created a significant new understanding and capability for commercial autonomous flight operations.
  • The flights took place at the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, involving take-offs, landings, and uncontrolled and controlled airspace navigation.
  • “The successful completion of this phase of testing demonstrates that it is possible to safely integrate autonomous aircraft into controlled airspace that is shared with piloted aircraft,” said Catherine MacGowan, Wisk’s Vice President of APAC and Air Operations.

Kea Aerospace Launches Solar-Powered Stratospheric Aircraft Using Audi EV

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Atmos, Smart city, Forestry, City, Fire, Kaitorete Spit, Environmental monitoring, NASA, Earthquake, Precision agriculture, Horticulture, Weather, Environment, Tsunami, Emergency management, Aircraft, Airline, Communications satellite

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Kea Atmos Mk 1" uncrewed aircraft has been designed to be used for stratospheric flight testing. It has a wingspan of 12.5 metres, weighs under 40 kilograms and will fly at altitudes higher than commercial airliners, up to 50,000 feet. The electric launch vehicle being used is an Audi e-tron Sportback.

Key Points: 
  • CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The " Kea Atmos Mk 1 " uncrewed aircraft has been designed to be used for stratospheric flight testing.
  • It was an absolute thrill to show the Kea Atmos Mk1 aircraft to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, NASA Deputy Administrator Pamela Melroy last month and we look forward to working with a wide range of international aerospace participants", CEO of Kea Aerospace, Mark Rocket says.
  • "The Kea Atmos is the first solar-powered stratospheric aircraft designed and built in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Kea Aerospace is building a fleet of solar-powered stratospheric aircraft that will be used to collect frequent high resolution aerial imagery for applications such as environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, maritime awareness and disaster management.