LODD Autonomous has initiated the certification programme for its Hili hybrid cargo aircraft with the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), transitioning from development and flight testing into formal certification.
“Hili is a hybrid-powered vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft being designed and developed by LODD in Abu Dhabi to transport payloads of up to 250 kilograms over distances of up to 700 kilometers, making it one of the longest-range cargo UAV programmes currently under development in the region,” according to a company press release. “The launch of the certification programme marks Hili’s transition from aircraft development and flight testing into the formal certification phase, a critical step towards achieving commercial entry into service following a demonstration of compliance with the highest airworthiness and safety standards.
The certification programme will encompass aircraft design approval activities, airworthiness compliance demonstrations, ground and flight testing, operational evaluations, and safety assessments required to demonstrate compliance with applicable airworthiness and certification requirements and support future commercial operations. It will be conducted under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, in collaboration with the GCAA acting as the certifying authority throughout the certification process,The initiative is supported by key stakeholders across Abu Dhabi’s aviation ecosystem, including the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), through its Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster, reflecting a collaborative approach to enabling the development, certification and commercial deployment of next-generation aviation technologies in the Emirate.
Upon certification, Hili is expected to support a range of commercial applications including middle-mile logistics, healthcare supply chains, offshore operations, humanitarian response and regional cargo transport.
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