Launch of Uncrewed Aircraft for Cargo Delivery in Oman

The Oman National Transport Company (Mwasalat) has taken a major step towards transforming the country’s aerial logistics network by signing an agreement with two American companies. According to the agreement signed on July 17, Mwasalat will deploy up to 25 uncrewed air vehicles named “Laila,” developed by sustainable aviation specialist Odys Aviation.

Additionally, Honeywell and Odys Aviation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to design new ground control stations to support the deployment of hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft in Oman and the Middle East region. Under this MoU, Honeywell will provide ground control stations for these aircraft, with pilot programs expected to start in 2025.

The Laila air vehicle, with a range of 370 kilometers, is designed in various configurations for cargo delivery and can be used for pipeline inspections, leak detection, geological surveys, maritime operations, and logistics services, including the delivery of critical goods.

The companies plan to launch initial pilot programs on defined, unpopulated routes using pre-production aircraft in 2025. The main goal is to closely collaborate with Mwasalat to implement these aerial logistics programs in Oman.

Honeywell’s ground control stations, which can be scaled to meet the needs of any VTOL platform, allow remote pilots to manage multiple vehicles simultaneously, over long distances, without direct visual contact. These stations also include advanced automation features such as traffic awareness, contingency management, and ground-based detect-and-avoid, reducing pilot workload.

Badr Al Nadabi, CEO of Mwasalat, stated: “With Honeywell’s proven experience and Odys Aviation’s technological innovation, Oman is laying the groundwork to become a leader in sustainable aviation.”

David Shilliday, Vice President of Advanced Air Mobility at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, added: “Our collaboration with Odys Aviation marks a significant milestone, moving our innovative solutions from testing to real-world applications.”

James Dorris, CEO and co-founder of Odys Aviation, said: “Honeywell has shown extensive leadership in sustainable aviation, and we are excited to work with their world-class team to bring advanced aerospace technologies to market as soon as possible.”

Source: Launch of Uncrewed Aircraft for Cargo Delivery in Oman (muscatdaily.com)