WLOX-TV: NASA Agreement to bring New Aviation Breakthroughs

“This is developing technology that’s going to connect the unconnected from a digital perspective, and make the world a safer, more connected place.”
Oct 24, 2024, 02:01 ET
Aviation agreement to bring new tech breakthroughs to the Gulf Coast
The Skydweller solar aircraft in its hangar at Stennis International Airport
Oct. 23, 2024 at 10:22 PM CDT
HANCOCK CO., Miss. (WLOX) – A new agreement is allowing an aviation company to take their studies to the next level here on the Mississippi Coast.

Skydweller Aero Incorporated has come to an agreement with NASA Stennis Space Center to use restricted airspace for test flights.

“It was a challenge because they had a lot of different scenarios based on their requirements,” said Jason Peterson, Range Operations Manager at NASA Stennis Space Center. “They pushed the envelope so to speak, but we were able to overcome that with our team.”

With this access, Skydweller will be able to perform test flights in a controlled airspace with limited obstacles, allowing for less hiccups as they work on developments.

“This is developing technology that’s going to connect the unconnected from a digital perspective, and make the world a safer, more connected place,” said Robert Miller, CEO of Skydweller.

The aircraft Skydweller flies is different from your typical plane. This plane is manned by a remote pilot and powered by solar power, allowing for less carbon emissions and extended flight times.

“Conventional unmanned aircrafts fly for 40-80 hours tops,‘ said Miller. ”We’re talking about flying for weeks, months, so hundreds and thousands of hours we’d be in the air.”

With this agreement, the expected speed for findings should increase greatly, allowing for the newest breakthroughs in aviation technology to be found here in South Mississippi.

“This is technology that people in Silicon Valley failed at that were succeeding in in Mississippi and Oklahoma,” said Miller.

Aviation agreement to bring new tech breakthroughs to the Gulf Coast