Fraunhofer IFAM and Droniq successfully conducted a 180 km BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone flight from the Offshore Drone Campus Cuxhaven (ODCC) to Heligoland and back, taking into account civil regulations and involving all relevant authorities. This marked a milestone in uncrewed aviation, demonstrating safe integration of long-range drone operations with manned air traffic and maritime coordination.
- The flight was operated using the HAS S360 Mk.IIfrom the Bremen-based company Hanseatic Aviation Solutions. The drone, a fixed-wing aircraft with a 3.6-meter wingspan, a 5-kilogram payload, and a takeoff weight of approximately 25 kilograms, flies at speeds of up to 100 km/h and is equipped with a combustion engine, ADS-B receiver, satellite communication, parachute, and emergency flotation systems.
- The drone flew at 200 meters altitude, coordinated via ODCC’s ground station, and followed the shipping lane to Heligoland.
- The Droniq's ground sensors enabled the drone pilot to be constantly informed of the current air situation. During the flight, the communication links, aeronautical radio, and other systems were tested.
- The mission showcased the feasibility of civil BVLOS operations over open water, with applications in infrastructure protection, environmental monitoring, and maritime emergency support.
"With drones, we have a tool that can help implement a wide variety of applications – and in a significantly more resource-efficient way than before," explained Tim Strohbach, group leader for "Maritime Drone Applications" at IFAM.
"Manned and unmanned air traffic must always be able to operate together safely" added Droniq CEO Jan-Eric Putze. "We have now demonstrated that something like this also works for long-distance drone flights. This marks a milestone in the further development of unmanned aviation."
An even longer test flight is now being preparaed by IFAM, together with the DIOL partners Esbjerg Port and Airport, Vives and Skeydrone, to take place between Heligoland and Esbjerg.
View the video:
See articles: [IFAM][droniq][aerotelegraph.com], [drones-magazin.de]
Images © : Fraunhofer IFAM