This cargo plane flew with no pilot on board

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly a plane without a human on board? Well, wonder no more, because one company has just achieved this feat for the first time in aviation history. Reliable Robotics, a leader in aircraft automation systems, flew a Cessna 208B Caravan with no one on board for 12 minutes over northern California. 

The company plans to commercialize its autonomous flight system soon, starting with an advanced autopilot system for single-pilot operations in crewed aircraft. This will reduce the pilot’s workload while making the aircraft safer and more efficient. The company also intends to develop its own air-to-air radar that will be able to track all airspace users regardless of whether they have transponders. This will enable it to begin flight testing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) without a pilot on board. 

The Cessna 208B Caravan is one of the world’s most widely used cargo planes, delivering time-sensitive shipments across North America and beyond. It has been designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., which has delivered more than 3,000 Caravans since its introduction in 1982. Reliable Robotics has been collaborating with Textron Aviation since 2022 to explore bringing advanced aircraft automation into its operations. 

The uncrewed flight test by Reliable Robotics is an important milestone for aviation, as it shows that autonomous technology can be applied safely and effectively in real-world scenarios. It also opens up new possibilities for expanding cargo capacity and reducing operational costs. As more companies adopt this technology, we can expect to see more innovations and improvements in aviation safety and efficiency.