Leasing group ASL Aviation Holdings this week placed deposits covering orders for 30 of Reliable Robotics’ flight automation systems to be installed in Cessna 208B Caravan aircraft. The agreement, announced on May 2, gives the Ireland-based group early delivery slots for the technology, for which Reliable Robotics is now seeking certification.
The companies have been collaborating on plans to automate cargo operations and said they aim to expand the use of the flight automation systems to other aircraft types in the next 12 months. ASL Aviation includes eight carriers located in Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa providing wet and damp lease services covering aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance. It currently has a combined fleet of more than 160 aircraft.
In February, the FAA agreed on the requirements for Reliable Robotics’ aircraft navigation and autopilot systems, having confirmed its certification plan back in June 2023. The California-based company is now installing certifiable components into a Cessna Caravan as it prepares to run for credit production and installation processes with the conforming configuration needed to convert the aircraft.
Reliable intends to seek validation of the FAA approval through bilateral agreements with international regulators, including EASA in Europe. The company said it is encouraged by ICAO's progress in updating the Chicago Convention Annexes to include standards and procedures covering remotely piloted aircraft systems in a bid to harmonize how these are regulated globally.
U.S. Air Force Considers Options For KC-135
Reliable Robotics is also pursuing military applications for its flight automation technology. Earlier this year, it presented the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command with a report on results from a study on plans to convert the KC-135 Stratotanker so that operations including taxi, takeoff, and landing could be automated.
“There is significant interest in outfitting the KC-135 with Reliable’s autonomy solution to increase aircraft utilization, extend mission capabilities, and provide relentless aerial refueling in both friendly and contested environments in reduced crew, and crewless configurations,” (retired) Major General David O’Brien, the company’s senior vice president of government solutions, told AIN. “Further work based on the proposed roadmap in the report is currently in active discussion with the Air Force. The next steps include detailed development of operational concepts and requirements, refueling boom architecture, navigation, and flight testing.”