SwissDrones Excludes Flight Testing in Malta
Strategically positioned between Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Malta has a long history in the maritime aviation arena, beginning with the construction of its first seaplane base in Calafrana in 1916 and launch of commercial flight operations in 1926.
Building on this expertise, the country now aims to position itself as a global hub for drones and advanced air mobility (AAM). This week, the country has taken a big step towards this.
The Transport Malta Civil Aviation Directorate (Transport Malta), the country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and SwissDrones, a global manufacturer of long-range unmanned helicopter systems, have carried out a series of long-haul flights beyond the line of sight (BVLOS). water for rigorous maritime patrol, search and rescue, and surveillance mission simulations. Additional flights were performed to test and validate communication and sensor loading.
The flight operations were carried out in close coordination with Transport Malta, the Malta Communications Authority, Malta Air Traffic Services, Enterprise Malta, Indis Malta, and the San Lawrenz local council.
All operations were carried out in accordance with the regulations of the European Union Security Administration (EASA) for unmanned aircraft under the Specific Category, with full authorization from Transport Malta.
“The archipelago of Malta offers an ideal geographical location for long-distance demanding seaworthiness testing,” said Ulrich Amberg, CEO of SwissDrones. “In addition, the nation is a growing hub for robotics and aviation with world-class infrastructure and excellent government support, making it perfectly suited to establishing a new base of operations.”
“We are impressed with SwissDrones’ meticulous and professional approach to conducting flight operations, as well as the unwavering engineering and quality of their aircraft,” said Charles Pace, Director General for Civil Aviation in Transport. Malta CAD. “We thank them for choosing Malta for their maritime testing and validation and look forward to continued collaboration.”
SwissDrones used its SDO 50 V2 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) unmanned helicopter system designed for a large number of long-range missions in inclement weather, night and day, at high altitudes, and a large range of temperatures, without any risk. to the crew.
The unique design features of the aircraft provide superior load capacity (45 kg / 99 lbs, including fuel), long endurance (3+ hours), stable flight patterns, the ability to carries high quality single or multiple sensors, and a high degree of security features. An integrated autopilot system allows autonomous take-off and landing procedures as well as autonomous flight models.
The SDO 50 V2 uses the Flettner system of intermeshing twin rotors that rotate in opposite directions. Each rotor pole is mounted at a small angle to the other, allowing the blades to tip over without colliding. This design allows for its superior load capacity, long-lasting resistance, and stable flight patterns. It also allows the helicopter to function without a tail rotor, which saves energy and allows for a much higher load and weight ratio.
“It has been a pleasure to work with the Government of Malta,” said Arangan Varatharajah, Head of Flight Operations at SwissDrones. “Each entity has been incredibly responsive and supportive throughout all application processes and we look forward to working closely together in an ongoing capacity.”
About SwissDrones
SwissDrones is a globally expanding Swiss aviation company specializing in the development, manufacture and operation of long-range unmanned helicopter systems for commercial and public safety applications. The company’s unique two-rotor aircraft are designed to replace manned helicopters at reduced costs, significantly lower carbon emissions, and without putting crews at risk when operating in low-cost conditions. the difficult weather. Key areas of application include aerial surveillance, search and rescue, and critical infrastructure inspection missions. The systems allow the integration of multiple high-level sensor loadloads simultaneously and allow long-range, out-of-line (BVLOS) operations both day and night with resistance of multiple hours. SwissDrones aircraft are operating throughout Asia, Europe and North America. SwissDrones was founded in 2013 and is based in Switzerland with its headquarters in Zurich and its manufacturing site in Buchs (St. Gallen).
For more information, please visit www.swissdrones.com
About Transport Malta
Transport Malta is the Malta Transport Authority. Transport Malta’s mission is to promote and develop the transport sector in Malta through appropriate regulation and through the promotion and development of related services, businesses, and other interests both locally and internationally.
For more information, please visit www.transport.gov.mt