Ameriflight explores unmanned operations with Merlin Labs

Ameriflight has signed a deal with Merlin Labs to adopt the Boston-based company’s autonomous and semi-autonomous flight technology. Merlin Labs, which Cargo Facts featured in an “Innovation Spotlight” session at Cargo Facts EMEA this summer, is developing an autonomy system that will allow fixed-wing aircraft to fly without a human pilot at the controls. [caption id="attachment_417137" align="alignright" width="560"] Ameriflight has a fleet of more than 150 feeder freighters. (Photo/Ameriflight)[/caption] Co-founder and CEO Matthew George told Cargo Facts that the company is still on track for regulatory approval in 2023, as part of a joint certification process with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The CAA approved the certification basis for the technology earlier this year. Even with the system in place, aircraft will initially fly with a safety pilot on board. Merlin has already carried out extensive tests on platforms such as the King Air and Cessna 172. Ameriflight, which operates its feeder fleet for customers including FedEx Express, UPS and DHL Express, has more than 150 freighters in its fleet. These include Fairchild SA227s, EMB-120s and Beechcraft 1900s and 99s. Merlin could not confirm how many of Ameriflight’s aircraft it would modify, while the carrier could not be reached for comment. George told Cargo Facts that its customers will select where the modifications will take place, during which specialists will install a range of avionics, computers and a cognitive core that will let the aircraft learn to fly itself after being trained by a human. Ameriflight President and CEO Paul Chase said in a release that Merlin’s system helps alleviate the pilot shortage because it “[puts] the equivalent of much more experience into the cockpit on Day One.” It is important that the airline is able to capitalize on the growth opportunities ahead by complementing its pilots with technology instead of replacing them, he added. George said that, while the focus of the next couple of years will be on smaller aircraft, one potential option for larger types would be to integrate the system during the freighter conversion process. Merlin Labs announced a $25 million funding round in May. Other startups are also looking to certify technology that will allow for autonomous cargo flights. San Francisco-based Reliable Robotics carried out an unmanned landing with a FedEx Cessna 208 in 2020, while Xwing, also based in San Francisco, performed a gate-to-gate autonomous flight with another Cessna 208 and signed a development agreement with Textron Aviation earlier this year.

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