Advancing airspace integration for remotely piloted aircraft
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 22, 2025

NASA and partner organizations have completed a new series of flight tests supporting the safe integration of remotely piloted aircraft, including future eVTOL systems, into national airspace. The research effort focused on ensuring air traffic controllers can manage additional flights without compromising safety.

On Aug. 21, NASA's ATM-X project supported Wisk Aero during a Bell 206 helicopter flight in Hollister, California. The aircraft was used as a surrogate to test Collins Aerospace's ground-based radar, designed to track aircraft position data for detect-and-avoid functions in urban operations. The demonstration also validated the system's ability to exchange data among geographically separated teams.

This trial followed earlier testing with Reliable Robotics and Collins Aerospace in November 2024. Initial results from the August flights showed that the Collins radar effectively surveilled local airspace and relayed data to NASA's Mission Visualization Research Command Center at Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. Researchers will now study the findings to refine both radar performance and cross-location data exchange.

The testing is part of ATM-X's broader campaign to determine what technologies and infrastructure the FAA will require to integrate drones and air taxis into crowded skies. The long-term goal is to shift some transport of people and goods from roadways into urban air corridors.

Remotely piloted eVTOL aircraft could provide cost-effective and accessible transportation options for cities facing congestion. NASA and Wisk will continue joint flight evaluations using helicopters to simulate eVTOL operations, helping to collect essential performance and safety data for future missions.

Related Links
Air Traffic Management - eXploration Project
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com