Following strenuous testing completed by Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research (NUAIR) at the New York UAS Test Site in Rome, New York, Israel-based drone company Flytrex, has the parachute on its package delivery drones validated as compliant with industry standards.
Through these rigorous tests, NUAIR is providing the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry with the data and standards testing needed to unlock commercial operations. This announcement builds on a $30 million investment announced by New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to develop the 50-mile UAS traffic management corridor between Syracuse and Griffiss International Airport, in Rome, New York to advance the growing UAS industry as part of the CNY Rising initiative.
This is the second parachute standard validation performed by NUAIR, advancing the potential for commercial drone package delivery and routine flights over people. Currently, the FAA prohibits most drones from being flown directly over people. 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.
“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.
A pioneer in the space, Flytrex has already made impactful strides in safe drone integration as a part of the FAA’s Integration Pilot Program and with the successful validation of its parachute, makes even more advanced flights possible — ushering in a new era of on-demand delivery that breaks down industry limits and sets higher safety standards. Flytrex’s testing of the DRS-M600 parachute under NUAIR supports the recent announcement by New York State Governor 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.
“When it comes to commercial drone operations, safety has to be a main priority,” said Yariv Bash, CEO and co-founder of Flytrex. “We chose to work with Drone Rescue Systems [DRS] 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.”
