Matternet M2 delivery drone first to achieve FAA Type Certification

Matternet is the first drone delivery startup to receive FAA Type Certification for its M2 delivery drone.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certification will enable Matternet to grow its drone delivery operations in the United States and provides the firm with a significant edge over its competitors.

Matternet, a drone delivery startup, made the announcement today that the aviation authority has granted Type Certification to the company's Matternet M2 delivery drone.

The Matternet M2 delivery drone is the first non-military unmanned aircraft to get Type Certification in the United States.

The conclusion of the FAA's thorough study that lasted over four years demonstrates the M2 aircraft's safety and dependability, which is a crucial step towards expanding commercial drone operations in the United States.

“We are incredibly proud that Matternet M2 has met the very rigorous safety standards of the FAA and is the first drone delivery system to be Type Certified in the United States,” said Andreas Raptopoulos, founder and CEO of Matternet. “Drone delivery will revolutionize healthcare and e-commerce in the US. We've been at the forefront of this revolution since launching US operations in 2019 — we are now ready for scale.”

Part 135 of the FAA regulations is the framework that is used for revenue-generating on-demand air carrier operations.

For the past four years, a select number of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including the Matternet M2, have been operating under this regulation using an exemption so that the systems can be evaluated.

Matternet's M2 delivery drone ready for expansion of services

When you have a Type Certification, the regulatory procedure for putting in place new networks and obtaining clearances will be simpler, more streamlined, and more predictable. In addition, aircraft that are Type Certified are the only ones that may be used for air carrier operating permits such as Part 135 on-demand transportation.

“This is a victory for not only Matternet, but for the whole UAS industry as it indicates a maturing of the industry and a shift away from exemptions and waivers towards more standard regulation,” said Jim O'Sullivan, vice president of regulatory strategy for Matternet. “Matternet would like to thank the FAA, as well as our advisors at End State Solutions.”

The assessment process includes the application of stringent standards on the design of the aircraft, the manner in which it is recorded, and how it is tested in a broad variety of environments and over the course of thousands of flights. As a result of this, it was shown that the M2 delivery drone is suitable for use in commercial delivery operations in the United States and is airworthy.

What do you think about using drones on a large scale for delivery purposes? Do you think that is a great idea and will help consumers to receive packages faster? Or do you think that having many drones zipping around will be a nuisance and cause noise pollution? We're curious to hear your thoughts on this topic.