2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Jessica Reed

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Todd Giles of Honeywell Aerospace moderated a panel discussion on AI

AI Revolutionizing Aviation with Smarter, Safer Flights

Charles Alcock

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Partners have agreed to prioritize deployment on military fixed-wing aircraft

Honeywell and Merlin Will Merge Autonomous Technology with Anthem Avionics

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Reliable Robotics wins contract and new funding as rival Merlin steps up flight testing

U.S. Air Force Steps Up Backing for Autonomous Flight Technology

Hanneke Weitering

Tests support autonomous flight and aerial refueling studies with the military aircraft

Merlin Starts KC-135 Flight Test Campaign With the USAF

Human factors guide enhancements to the Merlin Pilot autonomous flight control system

Merlin Engineers Fly on Stratotanker for Autonomy Research

The partners are pursuing new uncrewed aircraft applications for the FAA-funded system

MIT and Merlin To Integrate Collision Avoidance Technology

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The company's Certification System Bench means Merlin Pilot can be continuously tested

Merlin Accelerates Autonomous Flight Development with Simulator

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand has issued a Part 135 air operator&nbsp;certificate to autonomous flight technology developer Merlin. The company plans to start operating freight services so that it can collect flight data to support its efforts to certify its Merlin Pilot automation system.
In May 2023, Merlin opened an operations center at Kerikeri near the top of New Zealand’s North Island. The Boston-based company has been working to achieve certification for its product and operational plan since New Zealand authorities approved its Project Specific Certification Plan in August 2021.
The data collected from the as-yet-unspecified freight operations will&nbsp;support development decisions for Merlin Pilot, as well as its engagement with the New Zealand CAA and the FAA. “Achieving an organizational Part 135 certification gives us the opportunity to work with a forward-thinking regulator as well as leverage New Zealand as a sandbox for our current and future products,” said Merlin CEO and founder Matt George. “This enables us to continue progressing our technical maturity, ultimately validating the safety and operational effectiveness of the Merlin Pilot for Part 23 certification and beyond.”
Earlier this month, Merlin signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force to explore the potential for deploying the autonomous flight technology with the KC-135 Stratotanker refueling platform. The company will collaborate with the Air Mobility Command and the Air Force Material Command to design, integrate, and test the system with the aircraft.

Managing Editor

Merlin Gets Approval To Start Freight Operations in New Zealand

Colleen Mondor

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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Merlin completed a round of trials of its autonomous tech in Alaska

Merlin Autonomy Vision Raises Questions of Alaska's Preparedness

Autonomous flight technology developer Merlin has opened a test facility at Kerikeri in New Zealand. The Boston-based company is using a pair of Cessna Caravan aircraft for flight testing as part of the process to achieve certification for the Merlin Pilot system with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA).
According to Merlin, it has conducted more than 500 autonomous flights so far, with development work also being done at its Mojave, California&nbsp;test center. It is also seeking <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-04-12/merlin-wins-1-million-faa-contract-autonomous-flight-trials-alaska">FAA approval </a>for the supplemental type certificate (STC) under which it will convert existing aircraft that could also include Textron King Air twin turboprops.
As part of its development work, Merlin said, it has started a partnership with Freightways New Zealand to make cargo deliveries to rural communities in northern&nbsp;New Zealand. This will help it to have a complete understanding of freight cargo operations, which are expected to be an early use case for the Merlin Pilot system.
Earlier this month, the CAA concluded its review of Merlin’s “first stage of involvement” process&nbsp;and approved the company’s Plan for Software Aspects of Certification, which marks the start of New Zealand’s STC process. Merlin is pursuing concurrent CAA/FAA certification under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between the two countries.&nbsp;
However, a spokeswoman for the CAA told&nbsp;FutureFlight&nbsp;that the agency does not intend to approve Merlin's technology for fully autonomous flight. She said that the STC will specify that, at least initially, a pilot in command will have to be on board all flights.
The Merlin facility in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands region includes an aircraft hangar, maintenance workshops, and offices. Recently, the company deployed its first Caravan test aircraft to support relief operations to communities impacted by serious flooding.
Merlin is among several companies, also including Xwing and Reliable Robotics, that are looking to enable autonomous commercial flights, in part to ease the shortage of qualified pilots. Last year, the company announced that it had raised $105 million through a Series B funding round, taking the total reported funding to $130 million.&nbsp;
This story was updated on May 31 to clarify the terms under which the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority intends to approve the supplemental type certificate for Merlin's autonomous flight technology.
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Merlin

News

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Honeywell and Merlin Will Merge Autonomous Technology with Anthem Avionics

U.S. Air Force Steps Up Backing for Autonomous Flight Technology

Merlin Starts KC-135 Flight Test Campaign With the USAF

Merlin Engineers Fly on Stratotanker for Autonomy Research

MIT and Merlin To Integrate Collision Avoidance Technology

Merlin Accelerates Autonomous Flight Development with Simulator

Merlin Gets Approval To Start Freight Operations in New Zealand

Merlin Autonomy Vision Raises Questions of Alaska's Preparedness

Merlin Extends Autonomous Flight Trials to New Zealand

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