Zayed bin Mohammed bin Zayed witnesses the “Load Autonomous” aircraft conducting the first test flight of the “Heli” aircraft in the Al Ain region

In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Load Autonomous Company conducted the first test flight of the Heli hybrid heavy-lift aircraft, designed and manufactured entirely in Abu Dhabi, during an event organized by the company at its testing facility at the Emirates Falcons Flying Club in Al Ain, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Week.

The Heli aircraft is distinguished by its ability to transport payloads of up to 250 kilograms over a distance of approximately 700 kilometres, relying on a hybrid propulsion system that combines electric power and internal combustion within a modular design that ensures high levels of efficiency and safety for sustainable air transport operations.

His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan confirmed that conducting the first test flight of the Heli aircraft embodies the leadership of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the field of developing autonomous aviation systems and advanced logistical services, and reflects its ambitious vision to move forward in transforming innovations into practical achievements that support the process of economic and technological development.

His Highness praised the qualitative progress achieved by the sector of developing and manufacturing smart and autonomous systems in Abu Dhabi, especially in the field of smart air mobility, thanks to the continuous support of the Smart Autonomous Systems Council. His Highness stressed that this achievement embodies the vision of the wise leadership in empowering national competencies, promoting local innovation, and consolidating the position of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as a global center for sustainable air mobility technologies and autonomous systems.

On this occasion, Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Advisor to the President of the State for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology, and Secretary-General of the Advanced Technology Research Council, delivered a speech during the event in which he praised this important achievement in the air transportation and logistics services sector, noting its importance in driving the rapid development witnessed by this vital sector, describing it as an embodiment of Abu Dhabi’s vision and its continued investment in enabling local innovation capable of competing globally.

In his speech during the event, Rashid Al Mannai, CEO of LOAD Autonomous Company, said: “At LOAD Autonomous, we keep pace with the UAE’s vision for advanced air mobility technologies and autonomous systems, to enhance the country’s position as a global center for future technologies. We extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the wise leadership for its continued support of advanced aviation technologies and autonomous systems, as this ambitious vision has contributed to providing an environment supportive of innovation, which has enabled our company to develop “The Healy aircraft was successfully manufactured and tested from Abu Dhabi to the world, embodying the UAE’s capabilities to produce advanced technological solutions and systems with a global impact.”

Al Mannai added: “We feel very proud today as we witness the success of the first test flight of the Heli aircraft, which represents the result of years of work and innovation. This flight is not just a technical achievement, but rather an indication of the UAE’s ability to consolidate its position as a global center for technology and innovation in the field of smart and sustainable air mobility.”

Al Mannai concluded his speech by saying: “Through these achievements, Load Autonomous Company continues to consolidate its position as one of the leading national entities in the field of advanced air mobility, through its contributions to supporting efforts aimed at achieving the UAE’s vision of being a leading global destination for autonomous systems, logistics services, and future technologies in the aviation sector.”

It is worth noting that the first test flight of the “Heli” aircraft, which was witnessed by a number of officials from various entities and companies in the air mobility sector and smart autonomous systems, is a prominent engineering and operational achievement that reflects the growing capabilities of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in designing and manufacturing advanced aviation systems, as the aircraft was developed within an intensive engineering program that focuses on safety, precision and quality standards, which confirms the emirate’s ability to transform visions into realistic, tangible solutions with high speed and efficiency.

This achievement comes as a result of broad strategic cooperation that reflects the growing international confidence in the Emirati innovation system, and confirms the success of the approach adopted by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in strengthening partnerships between the government and private sectors to accelerate the development of advanced technologies and advance the transformation process towards sustainable and autonomous air transportation solutions.