Posted on July 21st, 2022

Melbourne, Australia: Swoop Aero, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) are undertaking a joint Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAS) certification project to catalyse the advancement and strengthening of the global aviation industry.

Over the coming months, the project will enable the seamless integration of drone technology across urban and rural environments throughout the world, specifically Swoop Aero’s latest and most advanced aircraft, The KiteTM.

The FAA certification process remains the world’s most comprehensive regulatory and safety framework for aviation-based activities. Swoop Aero’s attainment of FAA Type certification will bolster the exemplary safety record held by the organisation and enable the seamless integration of the technology-based platform into urban environments.

“Our world-first collaboration with the FAA and CASA means that Swoop Aero is setting the gold the standard for the global aviation sector. We are working closely with the leading regulatory bodies globally to ensure the Swoop Aero technology-enabled platform meets the highest global safety standards and can scale up the service across every inch of the globe”, said Eric Peck, Swoop Aero’s CEO.

This joint certification process will further strengthen Australia’s aviation capabilities. As an Australian built company, Swoop Aero has demonstrated the value and impact of the technology on an international scale. The involvement of CASA will ensure Australia remains world-leading in its regulatory stance and framework toward drone technology and its application across a myriad of industry sectors and locales. Alongside this joint certification program, Swoop Aero is also undertaking the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) design verification process for Kite to enable operations for its European customers.

The strengthening of Australia’s aviation capability is further supported through the enhancement and mass scaling up of Swoop Aero’s production headquarters in Port Melbourne, Australia. The investment in the local aviation ecosystem will further bolster jobs in the aviation sector. The demand for local talent continues to increase in line with the demand for the Swoop Aero technology-based platform across the world, including the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

“CASA is excited to be working collaboratively on the joint type certification and production certification of this remotely piloted aircraft. This project promotes the safe growth and innovation of the RPAS sector and will help pave the way for future growth in the industry.” Pip Spence, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Aviation Safety, Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

About Swoop Aero

Swoop Aero is an Australian drone logistics company founded in 2017 to transform how the world moves by making access to the skies seamless. Approved in 14 countries and underpinning over 16,000 safe operational flights, the Swoop Aero technology platform and flagship fully managed service enables seamless drone logistics at scale. 

The core Swoop Aero service is the turnkey operation of an integrated drone logistics service for entire populations, offering a range of services from medical delivery to emergency management, retail and e-commerce. Swoop Aero’s goal is to make its service accessible to 1 billion people in 2030.

Since its founding, Swoop Aero has worked with some of the largest organisations in global health across three continents, including UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, UK Aid, USAID, UPS, and Gavi the Vaccine Alliance.

Source: sUAS News