Israeli drone company Flytrex has partnered with the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research (NUAIR) to validate the company’s parachute on its package delivery UAVs at NUAIR’s New York UAS Test Site in Rome, N.Y.

Flytrex provides autonomous drone delivery systems that enable clients to integrate on-demand autonomous drone delivery.

The second validation performed by NUAIR, the test is expected to advance efforts to normalize drone-driven package delivery. NUAIR is a non-profit coalition of private and public entities and academic institutions that provides expertise in aeronautical research, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations, and safety management.

“Currently, the FAA prohibits most drones from being flown directly over people,” a company statement notes. “Professional drone operators can apply for a waiver from that restriction if they can demonstrate they have robust safety mitigations in place including having a validated parachute.”

Flytrex CEO Yariv Bash stated:

“When it comes to commercial drone operations, safety has to be a main priority. We chose to work with [NUAIR] not only because they are the experts when it comes to keeping drones safely above our heads, but also because we share the same vision of making commercial drones a viable option by upholding the highest safety standards. Our confidence in these tests is bolstered by NUAIR’s strong track record, having managed the testing of the world’s first certified parachute recovery system. NUAIR is at the forefront of safety regulation, and we’re pleased to be testing with an experienced and capable partner.”

Flytrex’s testing of the DRS-M600 parachute under NUAIR supports the recent announcement by New York State Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of a New York-Israel partnership, and the creation of a UAS Center of Excellence in the Mohawk Valley to be led by NUAIR.

“NUAIR’s testing at the New York UAS Test Site to validate the parachute on Flytrex’s package delivery drones is helping move this company and others toward commercial UAS activity that will build the drone industry and other industries in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky.