Remote Control Passenger Plane

The first in a series of flight trials aimed at developing technology for unmanned passenger air travel was recently completed in the U.K. Commanded by a ground-based pilot and under control of the National Air Traffic Control Services (NATS), the specially-adapted Jetstream research aircraft flew 500 miles from Warton, Lancashire to Inverness, Scotland.

The work is part of a program known as ASTRAEA (Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation & Assessment), an industry consortium that focuses on making unmanned aircraft safe for routine travel as autonomous vehicles become a part of our everyday lives. In addition to proving the technology, trials such as this one will aid in developing the systems, facilities, procedures and regulations needed to integrate it into our transportation infrastructure.