AURA Network Systems, working with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site and the Federal Aviation Administration, has completed an FAA-sponsored flight-test report documenting the performance of its voice-relay service during beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone operations.The report, authored by AURA under the FAA’s Broad Agency Announcement program, details real-time voice clarity and latency metrics aligned with RTCA DO-377 standards for remote pilot communications with air traffic control. The testing evaluated AURA’s hybrid voice-relay architecture, which connects remote pilots to controllers through a combination of UHF command-and-control links and legacy VHF systems.The flight tests, conducted in partnership with NPUASTS, assessed the system’s ability to support aviation-grade voice communications across multiple BVLOS scenarios. The results demonstrated performance meeting or exceeding FAA benchmarks for clarity, intelligibility and latency, key requirements for safe integration of uncrewed aircraft into the National Airspace System.“This report underscores what we’ve built: a reliable, aviation-grade voice link that delivers clarity, speed and trust,” said Kevin Steen, CEO of AURA. “These are the qualities remote pilots and air traffic controllers need to operate safely and confidently.”“Clear, reliable voice communications are critical for BVLOS flight,” said Trevor Woods, executive director of NPUASTS. “These tests show that AURA’s system delivers, and we’re proud to support technologies that enable safe integration.”Voice quality was evaluated using the Perceptual Objective Listening Quality Analysis standard, a globally recognized method for assessing real-world speech transmission. Testing confirmed intelligibility for both male and female voice samples across all scenarios.The FAA-sponsored report also documents the system’s ability to convert analog voice to digital and back while meeting latency and intelligibility requirements outlined in RTCA DO-377B, an updated standard published in December 2023 that expands performance requirements for command-and-control links supporting emerging UAS operations.The testing simulated terminal-area environments, with surrogate pilots and controllers communicating through AURA’s airborne and ground radios. Independent voice-quality assessments were conducted by the University of North Dakota Aerospace.AURA and NPUASTS have also released a short video highlighting the flight tests and technical validation, featuring live voice-relay demonstrations and commentary from program leaders.

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An FAA-sponsored report has validated AURA Network Systems’ voice-relay performance during BVLOS drone operations, confirming real-time clarity and latency aligned with RTCA standards. Conducted with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, the testing supports safe integration of uncrewed aircraft into the national airspace.

FAA-Sponsored Report Documents BVLOS Voice-Relay Performance by AURA and NPUASTS

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FAA-Sponsored Report Documents BVLOS Voice-Relay Performance by AURA and NPUASTS