FutureFlight
Autonomous Flight Pioneer Xwing Expands Air Cargo Operations in Preparation for Pilotless Services
The California-based start-up's workforce has tripled over the past 12 months.
An Xwing Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft is pictured on the tarmac.
Xwing is developing an autonomous flight system for its fleet of Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft. (Credit: Xwing)

Xwing is reporting rapid growth in both its commercial cargo operations and its workforce as it steps up efforts to gain approval for fully autonomous operations with converted aircraft like the Cessna Grand Caravan.

The company, which is working to introduce autonomous systems for regional cargo flights with no pilot onboard, announced on July 28 that is has acquired Martinaire Aviation, an air cargo carrier based in Dallas. This announcement comes shortly after Xwing’s acquisition of Seattle-headquartered AirPac Airlines, another cargo carrier, as part of a plan to prepare for FAA approval of its autonomous operations.

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