Skyward and Federal Aviation Administration to Test Cellular-Connected Drones
June 24 2021 - 3:58PM
Skyward, A Verizon company, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test
cellular-connected drones. This announcement reaffirms that drone
technology like the software developed by Skyward is one of the
innovations needed to empower cellular-connected drones to unlock
complex operations like beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS),
universal traffic management (UTM), and one-to-many operations.
Titled “Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)—Cellular Technologies to
Support UAS Activities,” the MOA enables Skyward and the FAA to
mutually research the capabilities of cellular communication
networks for command and control (C2) within the National Airspace
System. Partially focused on safety-critical C2 data, the
three-year MOA also allows the two groups to propose standards for
operations, including BVLOS and over commercial wireless spectrum.
Skyward and Verizon will also be using the data and information
collected in the course of the MOA to inform its discussions on C2
and BVLOS operations in the FAA's BVLOS Advisory and Rulemaking
Committee.
“Cellular-connected drones play a critical role in enabling
tomorrow’s safe, reliable, and secure drone operations,” said Matt
Fanelli, Director of Strategy and Operations at Skyward, A Verizon
company. “We are thrilled to be laying this foundation with the FAA
and are confident that our efforts will help inform technical
standards from which industry regulations authorizing low-risk
BVLOS and one-to-many operations will flow.”
Today, most commercial drones use unlicensed spectrum, which is
restricted in range and subject to interference, limiting its use
for complex operations. Verizon’s 4G LTE nationwide coverage,
provided over spectrum protected from interference, presents an
enormous opportunity for drone operations. The MOA will inform
regulations regarding spectrum used in the C2 link between the
drone operator and drone. The MOA will also facilitate information
sharing between the FAA and Skyward, leveraging Verizon’s wireless
network expertise, as the parties continue to explore how wireless
networks can support drone operations.
The MOA is inspired by the previous industry collaborations with
the FAA but is intended to address complex UAS operations through
joint data collection and analysis. The agreement also follows
Skyward’s announced emergency waiver to inspect critical
communications infrastructure near the Big Hollow wildfire in
Washington in September 2020. The industry’s first known fully
remote BVLOS operation with no pilot or visual observer on site
demonstrated a low-risk operation as well as a need for analyzing
and sharing fully remote data with standard bodies and the FAA.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on
June 30, 2000 and is one of the world’s leading providers of
technology, communications, information and entertainment products
and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence
around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $128.3 billion in
2020. The company offers data, video and voice services and
solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering
on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity,
security and control.
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Media contact: Jess Moody
jess@skyward.io907-602-3313
Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ)
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