Milestone Aviation Group has secured purchase and leaseback agreements with Bristow Group for two Leonardo AW139 helicopters, which are to be deployed for search and rescue (SAR) missions in the UK. These helicopters, which have been recently delivered to Bristow, are equipped to enhance the company's SAR capabilities. Milestone CEO Pat Sheedy said: “We are very pleased to strengthen our long-term partnership with Bristow through the lease of these two new state-of-the-art AW139s. “We are proud to suppo ...

Core Insights - Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy have achieved a significant milestone with the first autonomous test flight of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter, supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector program [1][2] - The test flight demonstrated the capability of uncrewed, autonomous aircraft to operate in contested environments without pilot intervention, showcasing advanced flight control and decision-making [2][4] Group 1: Test Flight Details - The autonomous test flight occurred in Phoenix, Arizona in May, marking a critical advancement in providing scalable logistics support to the U.S. Marine Corps [2] - Key autopilot modes of the AW139 were directly controlled by Near Earth's autonomy software, demonstrating precise flight control [2] Group 2: Strategic Implications - The successful demonstration opens new possibilities for the U.S. Marine Corps and other helicopter operators, indicating a shift towards uncrewed aircraft for enhanced safety in contested environments [3] - The ALC program aims to develop autonomous aerial logistics systems that minimize personnel risk and enhance supply operation speed and scale [3] Group 3: Future Developments - Future testing will focus on expanding autonomy capabilities, including automated obstacle avoidance and integration into military logistics workflows, aiming for a safer uncrewed delivery system [3] - Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy are committed to creating an affordable, scalable, and certifiable autonomy solution for future missions [4]