Zephyr

The Airbus Zephyr programme and the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) have completed the maiden civil flight of high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) in Dubai.

The pseudo-satellite reached an altitude of 61,696ft, and completed a day / night cycle of operation, becoming the first system in the UAE to do so.

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) official Michael Rudolph said: "By working closely with EIAST, Airbus, DCAA, Sheikh Zayed Centre and our military Air Force colleagues we have been able to complete not only the first flight of such a novel air vehicle but also safely manage a flight to above 60,000ft close to one of the three busiest airports in the world."

According to Airbus, Zephyr fills a capability gap between satellites and UAVs by focusing on a specific area where it can provide satellite-like communications and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) services.

Previously, the Zephyr programme has undertaken longest flight duration (14 days) without refuelling and also very high-altitude flights (70,740ft).

"The flight in Dubai demonstrated the ability of Zephyr to operate in regions of the world’s most crowded airspaces."

Airbus HAPS programme technical director Chris Kelleher said: "The flight in Dubai demonstrated the ability of Zephyr to operate in regions of the world’s most crowded airspaces."

EIAST and Airbus plan to develop more advanced HAPS systems and payloads, which will cater to the civil and commercial markets.

HAPS operates using solar power, and can fly at high-altitudes above the weather and conventional air traffic.

Airbus HAPS programme head Jens Federhen said: "Airbus has long recognised the value that HAPS can bring to important civil applications such as resource management, environmental monitoring and support to emergency services and it was critical that we demonstrated that the Zephyr could be operated under civil jurisdiction to enable these services to be offered.

"With the support of the Dubai CAA, EIAST has shown, for the first time anywhere that such operations can be undertaken in the civil domain."

Image: The flight reached an altitude of 61,696ft and completed a day / night cycle of operation. Photo: courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space.

Defence Technology