The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand has issued a Part 135 air operator 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 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.
