Israel Awards ‘World’s First’ License For Drone Flights 

A Tel Aviv-based drone startup has received what it says is the world’s first license from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) to authorize drone flights throughout the country via its uncrewed autonomous software.

High Lander has developed the Vega Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) platform, an autonomous air traffic management system for drones that can approve and deny flight plans according to prioritization protocols, suggest flight plan alterations when needed, and provide operators with real time notifications of relevant airspace data.

Vega is used by first responder drones, robotic aerial security, delivery networks and other services operating in shared or overlapping airspace.

The CAAI recently passed an emergency ruling stating that drones can only fly in Israel if  continuously broadcasting operational data to an approved UTM system. The data broadcast by drones can be shared with approved organizations such as the military, police, intelligence services and other homeland security forces, at their request.

High Lander was the first to receive a license to “operate air traffic management units,” just days after the ruling. 

This is the first time a UTM connection has been a prerequisite for the approval of drone flights, and the first time that a UTM provider had been granted the legal authority to provide this service.

“We are very proud to see Vega UTM begin to fulfill the purpose for which it was designed – managing uncrewed aviation on a national scale,” said High Lander CTO and co-founder Ido Yahalomi.

“The platform’s powerful monitoring, coordination and information sharing capabilities made it the perfect selection for the first recipient of this license, and we’re delighted to see its capabilities recognized by the national aviation regulator.”