• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Tech and Auto

World’s first transatlantic drone flight hails new era for aviation

The aircraft, an MQ-9B SkyGuardian, will travel 4,000 miles from the USA to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
June 26, 2018
in Tech and Auto, Travel

The world’s first transatlantic flight by a drone is set to take place next month – hailed as a “new era for aviation”.

A civilian-registered MQ-9B SkyGuardian will be piloted for 4,000 miles from the USA to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire by an operator based in North Dakota.

It is scheduled to fly into the UK on Wednesday July 11 ahead of the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford the following weekend.

The Civil Aviation Authority has authorised the flight and imposed a series of aviation restrictions to ensure a safe path for the drone.

A spokesman for the Air Tattoo said: “It signals the beginning of a new chapter in the history of aviation and brings closer the possibility that one day, airlines may routinely operate aircraft remotely.”

The SkyGuardian has a wingspan of 79ft and can fly non-stop for in excess of 40 hours.

RelatedPosts

HS2 won’t be ‘rich man’s railway’ but fares and if they will have first class compartments not decided

TLE drives: The Lexus LC500

One of UK’s most popular consumer reviews sites removed over 2.2 million fake or harmful posts last year

Two-thirds of UK adults support idea of vaccination passports despite legal and ethical concerns

The UK is due to bring into service its own version of the drone, the Protector Rg Mk1, which will be used by the RAF for long-range surveillance and precision airstrikes.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said: “The CAA supports the safe development of Remotely Piloted Aircraft in the UK as they can bring many benefits. We have worked closely with General Atomics, NATS and the armed forces to safely accommodate the SkyGuardian into UK airspace.”

Andy Armstrong, Air Tattoo chief executive, said the show has a proud history of featuring aviation ‘firsts’ and he was pleased that this would continue in 2018.

He said: “Remotely piloted aircraft, for both civilian and military use, are clearly an important part of aviation’s future landscape.

“We are already seeing a rapid growth in smaller airframes being used recreationally, for aerial photography and they have been used effectively in local search and rescue operations.

“We watch with great interest as further commercial applications are explored.

“It’s appropriate that on an occasion when we are celebrating the RAF’s centenary that we should present to the public not only aircraft from the RAF’s illustrious past and present but also offer a rare glimpse of its future.

“Whilst this particular airframe is being flown to very stringent aviation guidelines, I wish to remind everyone that strict rules and regulations exist regarding the use of smaller remotely piloted airframes, commonly known as drones. In the case of the Air Tattoo none are permitted to be airborne at or around the airshow and to do so would constitute a criminal act.”

Quit your job and travel the world like… Chris König

These cities have the world’s most diverse food scenes

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The Other Prison Pandemic

Latest from TLE

Set For Life Results Thursday 25th February 2021

East London Liquor Company Canned Cocktails

These are the best canned cocktails money can buy

How To Make: Curry and Rice

How To Make: Curry and Rice

‘Humiliating for Boris Johnson’ as Union unit to be replaced with new committee

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.