5 Jan, 17, Source: Leonardo-Finmeccanica

With the first flight of the innovative remotely piloted helicopter SW-4 ‘Solo’ yesterday at the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport, Leonardo-Finmeccanica begins the test campaign in order to verify the aircraft’s operational characteristics and validate flight procedures, in both normal and emergency conditions.

Mauro Moretti, CEO and General Manager Leonardo said: “The SW-4 ‘Solo’ is testimony of Leonardo’s industrial commitment and innovation in unmanned aircraft, a sector of increased global competition and is part of a portfolio of solutions making Leonardo the only European company able to provide a complete ‘unmanned’ system. When presented with an advancement of technology, the winning regions are those who can adapt to market needs. Grottaglie is an example of this.”

Yesterday’s activity was part of a collaboration started in 2015 between Leonardo, Aeroporti di Puglia (AdP) and the Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale Pugliese (DTA) for the “Grottaglie Test Bed,” which is a candidate to become the Italian solution to the national and European industry demand for the testing of unmanned aircraft. The flight campaign, carried out in collaboration with the DTA and Ente Nazionale Aviazione Civile (ENAC, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority), will continue during the first few months of 2017. The validation of procedures and regulations for the use of unmanned aircraft are among its key objectives.

The ‘Solo’, derived from the SW-4 helicopter produced by Leonardo in Poland and equipped with advanced systems and sensors also made by the company in Italy and the UK, is designed to operate with or without pilot on board. The ‘Solo,’ recently returned from a successful demonstration campaign in the UK, is an innovative solution for activities such as hydrological and critical infrastructure monitoring, firefighting, search and rescue, patrol, and disaster relief activities.

Related Posts

• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance fly 8,000th Mission
• Bell Announces the Delivery of Bell 429s to Jamaica Defence Force
• Egypt Receives new Ka-52 Alligator Helicopters
• Nepal to clamp down on helicopter rescue insurance scams
• Sonoma County Sheriff unveils new helicopter
• Wales Air Ambulance takes over Cardiff HP lease
• Japan resumes talks with local government on V-22 deployment
• Babcock takes delivery of another new S92
• AVIC AC312E Passes Stability Test
• LOTN completes overhaul of first Afghan Mi-17V-5
• Bell Boeing Joint Program awarded $74M contract for V-22 Repairs
• Bergen H225 Final Accident Report : Comprehensive and Worrying
• New Zealand orders NH90 flight training device from CAE
• Maverick Helicopters has expanded operations to Hawaii’s Kauai
• CHC and Sikorsky Sending Students to Safety & Quality Summit
• Aerometals Receives FAA STC Approval for Airbus H130 IBF System
• Manang Air successfully completes CAAN Approved Training Organization Audit-2018
• FAA proposes closing HIWAS weather advisory
• VRT500 passed first stage of aerodynamic tests
• Pulselite® Bird Strike Prevention System Approved