Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Reliable Robotics has completed a series of FAA-contracted flights designed to test whether large uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) can safely share airspace with crewed aircraft near airports.
The Mountain View, California-based company staged deliberate encounters between its <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-12-10/nasa-taps-reliables-pilotless-caravan-airport-uas-integration">autonomous Cessna Caravan</a> and other aircraft in and around the traffic pattern at Hollister Municipal Airport (KCVH) in California. These flights were intended to evaluate how its detect-and-avoid (DAA) system performs at the boundary between en route and terminal airspace, where aircraft are transitioning between the cruise and approach flight phases.
Testing confirmed that the FAA-developed Airborne Collision Avoidance System X (ACAS X), the algorithm that underpins Reliable’s autonomous flight technology, behaves differently in terminal airspace than en route—consistent with how IFR pilots adjust their procedures when interacting with VFR traffic, according to Reliable.
“Demonstrating the ability of UAS to integrate into airport environments with a VFR traffic pattern is necessary for building a scalable aviation autonomy solution,” said Brandon Suarez, the company’s v-p of UAS integration. “The data Reliable captured through this testing under the FAA is nearly impossible to generate in a lab environment, and is tremendously useful in the development of relevant and useful standards.”
ACAS X is the FAA’s successor to TCAS II, the collision-avoidance system carried by most commercial airliners. ACAS Xu is the variant developed for autonomous fixed-wing drones. Reliable’s system uses it to alert remote pilots to both cooperative and non-cooperative traffic and advise them on avoidance maneuvers.
Sagetech supplied prototype ACAS X avionics for Reliable’s flight testing campaign, while Collins Aerospace provided a prototype ground-based radar, and uAvionix contributed prototype C-band radio equipment. Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership also supported the campaign.
“Real-world testing advances the substantiation of standards that we rely on to build DAA solutions that keep our skies safe,” said Sagetech chief technology officer Matthew Hamilton.
Results have been submitted to RTCA Special Committees 228 and 147, which are developing standards for advanced DAA systems.
Reliable, which is developing its autonomous flight control system for both commercial and defense customers, said the testing is a step toward routine UAS operations in controlled airspace.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Reliable Completes FAA Detect-and-avoid Flight Tests Near Airports

Data from flight-test campaign substantiates new FAA drone standards

Reliable Robotics completes an FAA contract to conduct detect-and-avoid data collection flights in and around airport environments.

Reliable Completes Detect-and-avoid Tests Near Airports

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Partners seek to boost military options for countering drone threats 

Honeywell and Odys Develop Laila VTOL Anti-drone Platform

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Engineering prototype has conducted 35 test flights to date 

Brazilian President Witnesses eVTOL Flight Demonstration 

Small UAS will operate in GPS-denied, communications-degraded environments

Near Earth Autonomy Wins U.S. Contract for Maritime Drone Ops

UH-60MX serves as testbed for Army’s ‘SAFE’ autonomy program

U.S. Army Receives First Optionally Piloted Black Hawk

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Brazilian regulator ANAC shifts from route approvals to scalable operations

Speedbird Gains Brazil Approval for Urban BVLOS Drone Flights

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

In this article

Reliable Robotics

More In Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Honeywell and Odys Develop Laila VTOL Anti-drone Platform

Partners seek to boost military options for countering drone threats

Brazilian President Witnesses eVTOL Flight Demonstration

Engineering prototype has conducted 35 test flights to date

Near Earth Autonomy Wins U.S. Contract for Maritime Drone Ops

Small UAS will operate in GPS-denied, communications-degraded environments

U.S. Army Receives First Optionally Piloted Black Hawk

UH-60MX serves as testbed for Army’s ‘SAFE’ autonomy program

Speedbird Gains Brazil Approval for Urban BVLOS Drone Flights

Brazilian regulator ANAC shifts from route approvals to scalable operations

Hermeus Flies More Advanced Supersonic Demonstrator

Uncrewed aircraft Mk 2.1 commences supersonic test campaign

MightyFly Raises $10 Million for Autonomous Hybrid eVTOL Freighter

Autonomous cargo aircraft targets 100-pound payload, 600-mile missions

Saab To Fly Fighter-sized Uncrewed Aircraft Next Year

Experimental platform precedes future fighter program decision due by 2030

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN