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Britten-Norman teaming up with Blue Bear - to trial 'single pilot operations with an autonomous co-pilot'
Press release
http://britten-norman.com/britten-norman-and-blue-bear-join-forces-to-build-the-future-of-british-air-transport/
British
SMEs, Britten-Norman and Blue Bear, have partnered to make autonomous
flight a reality by the mid 2020's. Autonomous flight capabilities,
alongside zero carbon air vehicles, will be necessary to make future
regional aerial mobility affordable and improve interoperability.
This
week British SME's, Britten-Norman and Blue Bear, announced they will
partner to make autonomous flight a reality by the mid 2020s.
Britten-Norman
is the UK's only sovereign commercial aircraft manufacturer. It has
designed and produced aircraft for over 60 years. Its most famous
platform, the Islander, is one of the world's most successful and
enduring aircraft designs. Known as a rugged workhorse, the aircraft
serves in a variety of roles from passenger and cargo transport to
medevac and search & rescue. It's adaptability, as well as short
take-off and landing abilities, has made it the backbone of communities
around the world.
Blue Bear is a Managed Service Provider in
unmanned systems and the UK's foremost leader in air autonomy. Blue Bear
has routinely flight demonstrated 'UK firsts' for single UAS and swarm
UAS operations, enabled by their 5th generation Open Architecture
avionics.
Starting in October 2020, Blue Bear and Britten-Norman
will work together to automate the operation of a Britten-Norman
Islander. The project's first milestone will be to demonstrate single
pilot operations with an autonomous co-pilot providing assistance. This
is expected to enter service in the mid 2020s and would present a
significant efficiency increase and cost saving for regional air
operators.
Critical to the UK's levelling up agenda will be
improving transport links between the UK's regions and cities. Currently
regional air transport is underdeveloped and often forced to rely on
subsidy. This is because regional air transport can struggle to be
economically sustainable due to high operating and maintenance costs.
Regional air transport will have to incorporate zero carbon and
autonomous technology to make operations affordable and scalable.
Utilising these technologies could make air transport faster, greener
and easier than road and rail journeys by the 2030s.
To
celebrate today's announcement the companies have released an image
designed to echo early travel posters. As a young sector, aviation
companies used visually striking images to alert the public to how
aircraft changed lives. Both companies felt that now, with radical new
capabilities on the cusp of being realised, an update was in order.
Dr
Yoge Patel, CEO of Blue Bear, said: "Blue Bear are absolutely delighted
to be working with Britten-Norman, whose talent for rapidly turning new
challenges into solutions for their customers is remarkable. We have
found a kindred spirit, in so many aspects, with whom the next era of
aviation can be genuinely realised. It's a perfect match. Two agile SMEs
with their own dedicated systems integration and flight test facilities
can de-risk and flight prove innovations at an unprecedented pace".
William
Hynett, CEO of Britten-Norman, said: "We have become used to the 'car
of the future' incorporating green and autonomous technology, the future
of aviation will undergo a similar revolution. Blue Bear is the leading
light when it comes to air autonomy technology, it is an absolute
privilege to be partnering on this project. The whole Britten-Norman
team is very excited. Blue Bear and Britten-Norman share the same values
and an ethos of passion for innovation. We are proud to be British SMEs
partnering to build the future of British aviation. I look forward to
our companies achieving great developments together."
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