The Air Force’s Global Hawk high-altitude reconnaissance UAV has become the first unmanned system to receive an airworthiness certification stamp of approval. The Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, recognized the momentous event with a ceremony on Jan. 25. This means that the FAA has faith in the UAV’s reliability in flight, now that it has passed more than 500 technical criteria, according to ASC officials. Next, they want to take the Navy version of the Global Hawk through the same process.
The two prototypes for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program have started ground testing, Air Force Chief Staff Gen. David W. Allvin announced May 1, ahead of a planned first flight this summer.