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Matternet Granted 20:1 BVLOS Waiver by FAA
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby
Last week, leading drone delivery system developer Matternet was granted an FAA waiver that will enable the company to carry out operations that simultaneously deploy a total of 20 aircraft under the control of only a single remote pilot.
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Valid only at Matternet’s Pittsburg, California test site, the 20:1 waiver allows the aircraft to fly beyond the sight of the remote pilot and the visual observer. The visual observer’s presence is required to guarantee that the airspace is clear. This new waiver follows a series of other accomplishments by Matternet, including its recent FAA Type and Production certifications.
The Matternet 20:1 waiver serves as a major milestone in the process of advancing not only Matternet’s level of automation, but also the economics of drone delivery as a whole. While Matternet’s recent FAA certifications have been hardware focused, this new waiver emphasizes the company’s focus on its software and autonomous capabilities.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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https://dronelife.com/2023/02/13/20-drones-1-pilot-matternets-new-waiver-could-change-the-economics-of-drone-delivery/
