Sat, Feb 01, 2025
First Operator To Gain Approval, Says FAA Type Cert Meets Standards
Matternet announced it has received approval from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), to operate its M2 urban delivery drone in the region, making the company the first operator to receive this approval. The GACA determined that the U.S. FAA Type Certification received by the M2 met its airworthiness standards.
Matternet received its FAA Type Certification in September 2022 and began operating its home delivery service in the Silicon Valley region in California in 2024. The company has been developing key global partnerships to expand its footprint since 2021 when it entered a collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health to furnish city-wide medical deliveries.
Andreas Raptopoulos, Founder and CEO of Matternet said, “We are proud to have received this acceptance from GACA and are honored that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recognizes our dedication to safety and operational excellence. The Middle East is an exciting region for drone delivery and Saudi Arabia represents the largest economy. Riyadh will have autonomous drone delivery as a new layer of city infrastructure, enabling ultra-fast, cost-efficient, zero-emissions delivery for its businesses and residents.”
In 2022, Matternet launched the world’s longest urban delivery route in Zurich, Switzerland. This year the company plans to continue scaling up its operations throughout the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, and is committed to ensuring its drone delivery technology exceeds regulatory standards to take advantage of the growing opportunities that will lead to mass adoption and move the industry into the future.
Jason Secore, Matternet’s CFO said. “We have seen rapid growth in the development and population of cities such as Riyadh. This will create a greater need for delivery, and lead to mounting pressure on the current infrastructure to keep up with demand. Drone delivery will play a key role in managing these challenges in a timely and scalable manner.”
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