Autonomous Helicopter Testing Program Expands With FAA Approval for Three New Flight Areas

Rotor has received the go-ahead from the FAA to conduct flight tests of the R220Y uncrewed helicopter at three new flight locations. This new approval includes new and expanded locations near Rotor’s R&D headquarters in New Hampshire, as well as the Pendleton UAS Range (PUR) in Oregon and a site near Boise, Idaho. In total, Rotor now has approval to fly at 9 locations across the US.

The increase in approved flight areas will accelerate Rotor’s flight test program by granting access to a wider variety of terrain and weather, and enabling long-distance flying. Rotor will also leverage the new flight areas to perform customer demonstrations in mission-representative locations for aerial firefighting operators such as the US Forest Service.

Expanding the operating domain of large uncrewed systems is an important step towards commercialization and the integration of more autonomous and uncrewed aircraft into the National Airspace System.

Rotor thanks the FAA for their continued support. This is another step toward a future of VTOL flight that is radically safer, more accessible, and more capable than today.