Pilotless cargo aircraft could change how packages move

A broken pump on an offshore platform, or medical supplies needed after a hurricane can be tough to move quickly.The FAA just tested one possible solution: a hybrid-electric cargo aircraft that can take off vertically and fly without a crew onboard.The FAA announced that Elroy Air and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development conducted a cargo demonstration at Houma-Terrebonne Airport in Louisiana.
The agency says it was the first remotely piloted aircraft test flight under its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) Integration Pilot Program, known as eIPP.That may sound like a specialized aviation test, but the bigger story is what aircraft like this could eventually do.Elroy Air's Chaparral can carry more than 500 pounds, putting it in a very different league from the small delivery drones you may picture hovering over a driveway.So, could pilotless aircraft like this eventually change how everything from emergency supplies to everyday goods moves across the country? Here's what the FAA is testing and why it could be a big deal.MISSOURI TESTS MEDICAL DRONES TO SPEED UP RURAL HEALTH CAREThe Chaparral can take off and land vertically, allowing it to operate in places without a traditional runway.
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