Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Textron Launches Unmanned Aerosonde at Virginia Test Site
Textron started operating the Aerosonde UAS through an FAA certificate of authorization awarded to the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership.
Textron Systems started flying the Aerosonde in Blackstone, Va., through an FAA certificate of authorization granted to the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership. (Photo: Textron)
Textron Systems started flying the Aerosonde in Blackstone, Va., through an FAA certificate of authorization granted to the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership. (Photo: Textron)

Textron has started flights with its catapult-launched Aerosonde unmanned aircraft system (UAS) near Blackstone, Va., through a certificate of authorization the FAA granted to the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), one of the six national test sites the agency announced in December 2013 to help introduce UAS into civilian airspace.