Category Archives: Take-Off & Landing

DARPA SideArm Catches UAS Flying at Full Speed

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Few scenes capture the U.S. Navy’s prowess as effectively as the rapid-fire takeoff and recovery of combat jets from the deck of an aircraft carrier. The ability to carry air power anywhere in the world, and both launch those aircraft to flight speed and bring them to a stop over extremely short distances, has been essential to carriers’ decades-long dominance of naval warfare. Continue reading

US DHS Fields New Automatic Takeoff & Landing Capability for Predator B Fleet

DRR 113 3-FixedGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), has announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released its newest flight software which fields GA-ASI’s proprietary Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) system. The ATLC system is designed to increase safety and efficiency of air crews. Continue reading

GA-ASI Extends Partnership with Fokker to Develop Predator B Landing Gear Systems

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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) and GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business unit, a Dutch aircraft systems and components manufacturer, have announced that they will collaborate to produce and support landing gear systems for Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper RPA systems. Fokker is GA-ASI’s Dutch in-country partner. Continue reading

Robotic Landing Gear for Helicopters


Helicopters are incredibly manoeuvrable in the air, but during landing and takeoff their traditional skid- and wheel-based landing gear requires stable, flat surfaces—surfaces that are often unavailable in helicopter-needy environs such as forward operating areas, ships at sea and natural-disaster zones. Having the ability to land on and take off from angled, irregular and moving surfaces would greatly expand the effectiveness of helicopters across many military and national security missions. Continue reading

Gray Eagle Completes 20,000 Automated Takeoffs And Landings

GrayEagle.US ArmyGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. announced that its Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) has reached a record 20,000 successful automatic launch and recoveries with the Automatic Takeoff and Landing System (ATLS). This milestone was achieved on September 25 and comes just 15 months after reaching 10,000 events in June 2012.

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