Xwing Flies Cessna Caravan 208 Autonomously

After operating in stealth mode for the last four years, San Francisco-based Xwing said in a news release last week it has carried out a number of passenger-carrying flights from takeoff to landing using a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. Xwing’s Autoflight System retrofits existing aircraft into optionally piloted vehicles, “by integrating with onboard flight control systems that allow the aircraft to navigate, take off and land autonomously, ensuring more cost-effective operations for logistic companies.” The system is designed to be supervised by remote operators who work with air traffic controllers to ensure safety throughout the flight.

Xwing says it has completed a large volume of testing on its Caravan with thousands of simulation runs, software system tests, and flight tests that include low and high-speed ground taxi tests, takeoffs, navigation in the airspace, detect-and-avoid tests, and landings.

By Rob Mark

Rob Mark is an award-winning journalist, business jet pilot, flight instructor, and blogger.