Xwing has signed a joint development agreement with Textron Aviation. Under the non-exclusive agreement, the companies will work together to accelerate the integration of autoflight technologies into existing and future aircraft, starting with the Cessna Grand Caravan.

The agreement arrives as e-commerce demand continues to grow domestically and internationally, with an increase of 32.4% in 2020 alone. Limited numbers of pilots, flight cancellations, higher costs, and delays across both commercial and cargo aviation, led to the manufacturers exploring technological solutions at scale.

“It's an honour to work with Textron Aviation to optimise the next generation of aircraft for autonomous flight,” says Marc Piette, CEO and founder at Xwing. “Cessna Grand Caravan single-engine utility turboprops have long been Xwing's aircraft of choice. Best suited and reliable for the air cargo industry, Cessna's Grand Caravan fleet has accumulated millions of flight hours.”