Merlin Pilot for Commercial Cargo will introduce the company’s autonomy system, which is undergoing a military airworthiness campaign, to the civil sector. [Credit: Merlin Labs]
Key Takeaways:
Merlin Labs is expanding its AI-powered autonomous flight system, Merlin Pilot, to commercial cargo aircraft under a new product suite named Condor.
The Merlin Pilot system, which operates from takeoff to touchdown and includes capabilities like ATC communication, is being developed for both military (e.g., C-130J, KC-135) and commercial airframes (e.g., Boeing 737, Airbus A320).
This commercial push aims to address pilot shortages and meet the growing demand in the cargo market, with Merlin pursuing FAA Part 25 authorization alongside its military certification efforts.
In the not-too-distant future, cargo could be shipped by airplanes that autonomously assist their pilots.
Boston-based Merlin Labs, which is pursuing military airworthiness for its Merlin Pilot autonomy system on U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) C-130J Hercules transporters, said Thursday it will integrate the same system on commercial cargo aircraft.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
