Atlas Center Hosts Beyond Line-of-Sight Unmanned Flight
The electric airplane flew up to 3,300 feet above sea level.
Testers with Spain's Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies launch the Viewer electric airplane. (Photo: Atlas center)
Testers with Spain's Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies launch the Viewer electric airplane. (Photo: Atlas center)

Spain’s Air Traffic Laboratory for Advanced Systems (Atlas) experimental test center on August 20 hosted the first flight of a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) beyond visual line of sight since new rules governing RPAS entered force in that country. Pilots with the Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies flew the Viewer aircraft, a 33-pound mtow electric airplane, more than 8 km (4.9 miles) from the center’s facilities in Villacarrillo and up to 3,300 feet above sea level.