Textron Aviation and Merlin unveiled the cockpit-free SkyCourier UX, a concept for pilotless cargo flights. It could carry about 6,000 pounds or three LD3 containers to rough airstrips. As of Sept. 22, no test date or production timeline had been announced.
The UX is based on the FAA-certified Cessna SkyCourier turboprop, a program FedEx helped design, and would use Merlin's autonomy software to control flight. Testing, safety validation and regulatory review remain hurdles before aircraft like this could become routine.
The article says pilotless planes would likely be used for cargo first because passenger flights require a different level of liability.
