Airbus UpNext, a wholly owned subsidiary of Airbus, has commenced testing DragonFly, the new on-ground and in-flight, pilot assistance technologies on an A350-1000 test aircraft. The technologies being demonstrated include automated emergency diversion in cruise, automatic landing and taxi assistance. The technologies are aimed at evaluating the feasibility and pertinence of further exploring autonomous flight systems in support of safer and more efficient operations.
During the flight test campaign, the technologies were able to assist pilots in flight, managing a simulated incapacitated crew member event, and during landing and taxiing operations. Taking into account external factors such as flight zones, terrain and weather conditions, the aircraft was able to generate a new flight trajectory plan and communicate with both Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the airline Operations Control Centre.