Airwayz, a specialist in large-scale low-altitude unmanned traffic management (UTM) for drones, has been chosen by Propeller Drones to execute a $7m Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) contract
The groundbreaking project marks the first government approval for unmanned drones to operate via a pre-approved UTM system, transforming the inspection of electrical infrastructure.
Drones will operate on AI-approved routes beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), marking a significant step forward in autonomous drone operations.
Until now, unmanned flights have faced regulatory hurdles as authorities awaited companies that could meet strict safety standards, while private enterprises sought advanced technologies to guarantee safe BVLOS operations.
Propeller Drones – Israel's largest drone service provider – collaborated with FlightOps to enhance AI flight capabilities to meet the IEC's needs and address regulatory concerns. Airwayz was enlisted to provide a robust UTM system capable of managing large areas and multiple fleets. Founded by experienced air traffic controllers, Airwayz' system dynamically integrates weather and location data to minimise operational overhead and can reroute numerous unmanned vehicles simultaneously in case of an incident.
“This project is a landmark not only for Airwayz but for the entire industry,” said Eyal Zor, CEO and co-founder of Airwayz. “Each flight utilising our proven UTM technology will be studied and will help turn the vision of autonomous BVLOS drone operations into reality. As the system accumulates flight hours, we witness significant enhancements in airspace optimisation, opening up business opportunities that industries have anticipated.”
Enhancing in-flight reliability and efficiency is another key factor for businesses worldwide seeking to adopt this approach in their local markets. “Bringing together proven teams has allowed us to expand our commercial activities,” said Itamar Kohali, CEO of Propeller Drones. “As industry demands continue to rise, each regulator-approved large-scale operation brings us one step closer to delivering these capabilities to organisations that need them most.”
This collaboration enables the three organisations to apply for tenders and regulatory approvals as a single unit, both locally and globally.
