Skyward has partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test cellular-connected drones that could unlock complex UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) operations such as beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), universal traffic management (UTM), and one-to-many operations.
The partnership will enable Skyward and the FAA to mutually research the capabilities of cellular communication networks for command and control (C2) of unmanned aircraft within the National Airspace System. Partially focused on safety-critical C2 data, the three-year collaboration also allows the two groups to propose standards for operations, including BVLOS and over commercial wireless spectrum. Skyward and parent company Verizon will also be using the data and information collected to inform discussions on C2 and BVLOS operations in the FAA’s BVLOS Advisory and Rulemaking Committee.