Aircraft
First Commercial UAS Flight Due; Small UAS Rule Delayed
First Commercial UAS Flight Due; Small UAS Rule Delayed
ConocoPhillips confirmed that a ScanEagle it is using in the Chukchi Sea experienced an engine failure during a second test flight. (Photo: Insitu)
ConocoPhillips confirmed that a ScanEagle it is using in the Chukchi Sea experienced an engine failure during a second test flight. (Photo: Insitu)

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration expects that energy company ConocoPhillips will make the first commercial flight of an unmanned aircraft today. Under a restricted category type certification the FAA awarded in July, ConocoPhillips will launch an Insitu ScanEagle from the research vessel Westward Wind in the Chukchi Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean west of Alaska.

Jim Williams, manager of the FAA’s UAS integration office, revealed the expected first-flight milestone during a presentation at the NextGen Ahead conference in Washington, D.C. ConocoPhillips did not immediately return a message seeking confirmation.

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