Autonomous Aviation

pilotless · cargo · supervision · regulation

China certified a pilotless passenger aircraft in 2023; no Western authority has. Removing the pilot is the cost lever that turns air taxis into a fleet business.

Stepped ladder of aviation autonomy, widest at the top: pilot onboard (Joby, Archer, Vertical and Eve at launch); pilot plus autonomy kit (Reliable Robotics and Merlin on fuel-burning Cessna Caravans); uncrewed supervised cargo (AutoFlight CarryAll, Elroy Air Chaparral, Pyka); pilotless passenger and certified (EHang EH216-S under CAAC); pilotless passenger in certification (Wisk Gen 6 with the FAA, EHang VT35). THE AUTONOMY LADDER IN AVIATION Pilot onboard Joby, Archer, Vertical, Eve at launch Pilot + autonomy kit Reliable Robotics, Merlin (fuel-burning Caravans) Uncrewed cargo, supervised AutoFlight CarryAll, Elroy Chaparral, Pyka Pilotless passenger, certified EHang EH216-S (CAAC) Pilotless passenger, in certification Wisk Gen 6 (FAA), EHang VT35
Certified pilotless passenger eVTOL
EHang EH216-S
Wisk owner
Boeing (sale to Archer pending)
Reliable Robotics FAA target
2028
Hub
Vehicles

Finding

Autonomy in aviation is arriving from both ends: pilotless eVTOLs certified first in China, and autonomy kits and uncrewed freighters in the US, while Western passenger air taxis launch with a pilot

EHang's two-seat EH216-S flies with no pilot under a CAAC type certificate (2023) and air operator certificates (2025), with more than 3,000 trial flights logged by mid-2026. In the US the only pilotless passenger program in FAA certification is Boeing's Wisk, which Boeing agreed in August 2026 to sell to Archer together with Insitu and SkyGrid; until that closes, Wisk remains a Boeing subsidiary.

The autonomy stack is the same one used on the ground: perception (radar, cameras, ADS-B and detect-and-avoid), flight control software certified to DO-178C DAL A, a supervision center where one operator monitors several aircraft, and airspace integration software such as SkyGrid. Wisk's design puts one ground supervisor over several aircraft. Joby bought Xwing's autonomy team in 2024 and is building its defense and autonomy work around it. Archer and Anduril unveiled a hybrid-electric autonomous VTOL in July 2026, Halo for commercial and Thunder for defense missions.

Cargo goes first because no passenger is aboard. Reliable Robotics raised $160 million in April 2026, targets FAA certification of its Reliable Autonomy System in 2028 and plans US Air Force cargo trials in the Indo-Pacific; Merlin fits similar systems to Caravans and military transports. Both convert fuel-burning aircraft, so they sit outside the electric dataset but set the FAA precedent for remote supervision. On the electric side, AutoFlight's CarryAll is certified in China, and Elroy Air's hybrid-electric Chaparral entered FAA type certification in 2025, will be built by Kratos in Sacramento and is going public through a SPAC. The FAA has no rule yet for pilotless passenger flight; the powered-lift SFAR assumes a pilot onboard, and the proposed Part 108 covers beyond-visual-line-of-sight drones. See Drones and UAVs and Autonomous UAV Fleets for the small-aircraft end.

Programs

Autonomous aircraft programs

Autonomous aviation programs
ProgramAircraft and powertrainApproachStatus
EHang EH216-STwo-seat multicopter, battery-electricPilotless, remote supervisionCAAC TC, PC and OC; trial operations in Guangzhou and Hefei
EHang VT35Two-seat lift-plus-cruise, battery-electricPilotlessCAAC type certificate application (2025); early deliveries
GAC GOVY AirCabTwo-seat multicopter, battery-electricPilotlessCAAC certification in progress
Wisk Gen 6Four-seat lift-plus-cruise, battery-electricPilotless, one supervisor for several aircraftFAA certification in progress; Boeing-owned, sale to Archer pending
AutoFlight CarryAllCargo eVTOL, battery-electricUncrewed, remotely pilotedCAAC type and production certificates
Elroy Air ChaparralCargo VTOL, hybrid-electricAutonomous, ~724 km rangeFAA type certification started 2025; eIPP; Kratos production late 2026
Pyka Pelican CargoFixed-wing cargo, battery-electricAutonomousFlight testing
Reliable RoboticsCessna 208 Caravan (fuel; outside electric dataset)Remotely supervised autonomy kitFAA certification targeted 2028; USAF trials; eIPP
MerlinCaravan, military transports (fuel; outside electric dataset)Pilot-assist to reduced crewFAA and military programs
Archer and Anduril Halo / ThunderHybrid-electric VTOLAutonomous, commercial and defenseUnveiled July 2026

Regulation

Regulatory path to pilotless flight

Regulatory path by authority
AuthorityCurrent rulePilotless passenger flight
CAAC (China)TC, PC, AC and OC for EH216-SApproved for certified operators; ticketed service awaiting clearance
FAA (US)Powered-lift SFAR (pilot onboard); Part 108 BVLOS proposed for drones; eIPP pilot operationsNo rule; Wisk certification is the test case
EASA (EU)SC-VTOL; SORA for uncrewed operationsNo approval; piloted launch first
GCAA (UAE)Special permits and restricted type certificatesAutonomous trials permitted; launch piloted

Sources

Sources and scope

Scope
Autonomous Aviation
Sources
CAAC; FAA; EHang; Archer and Boeing (Aug 2026); AIN (Reliable Robotics, Elroy Air-Kratos); Oct 2026
Updated
October 2026