Joby Aviation recently completed a first-of-its-kind demonstration of its autonomous flight technology, logging more than 7,000 miles across more than 40 hours in a Cessna Caravan without a pilot.
The demonstration of Joby’s Superpilot was part of the Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC), an exercise led by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). The flights were over the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii.
The autonomous flights were managed from ground control stations at various locations throughout the exercise, primarily from more than 3,000 miles away at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, according to Joby officials.
A safety pilot was onboard the aircraft to monitor the system’s performance, company officials added.
Joby’s Superpilot, integrated into a Cessna Caravan 208, was tasked with a variety of missions, including:
- Superpilot demonstrated the capability to execute rapid cargo deliveries, hub-and-spoke logistics, inter-island transport, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) profiles.
- Flights were successfully conducted in multiple classes of airspace (B, C, D and uncontrolled) and under both visual and instrument flight rules.
- Superpilot flew a total of 7,342 miles over 43.7 hours. Within the exercise, the aircraft completed six sorties, flying for 14 hours covering 2,416 miles. The campaign also included a roundtrip ferry flight of 4,925 miles, with Superpilot handling a Pacific Ocean crossing, landing and taxi at destination airports.
In June 2024, Joby acquired the autonomy division of Xwing, including Superpilot, with the goal of accelerating development of autonomous flight technology in defense and commercial applications.
The work for the Department of Defense will help “inform integration of autonomous capabilities into Joby’s commercial air taxi platform,” according to company officials.
For more information: JobyAviation.com
Virtually all Commercial and even more sophistcated General Aviation flights today are conducted using autopilot. AP turned on right after takeoff, dial in the parameters.
Don’t need “Stick & Rudder” skills for that.
Problem is what we see today is less basic skill when it hits the fan & that has been deadly. I see a new rating called “Safety Pilot” on the horizon at least through most of our lifetimes.
I know, it is supposed to be called progress, but for some reason I’m not terribly excited about this stuff. What’s the point? What is this going to mean for future generations of aspiring pilots?
“You want to be a pilot? Need not apply, we already have Superpilots”.
BTW, I know that the point is Money. But still …..