LODD Autonomous has officially launched the certification programme for its Hili hybrid cargo aircraft with the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), marking an important milestone in the development of autonomous air cargo transport.
The programme moves the aircraft beyond the testing phase and into the formal civil aviation certification process required before commercial operations can begin. According to LODD, Hili is the first autonomous cargo aircraft designed and developed in the UAE to reach this stage.
Developed in Abu Dhabi, Hili is a hybrid-powered vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft capable of carrying payloads of up to 250 kilograms over distances of up to 700 kilometres. The aircraft is being designed to support a wide range of logistics missions, including healthcare deliveries, energy operations, humanitarian aid and industrial cargo transport.
LODD Chief Executive Officer Rashid Al Manai described the start of the certification programme as one of the company’s most significant achievements, highlighting the progress made in aircraft design, engineering and flight testing over recent years.
The certification process will include detailed reviews of the aircraft’s design, airworthiness, safety systems, ground and flight testing, as well as operational evaluations required for future commercial use.
The programme is being carried out under the supervision of the UAE’s Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, while the General Civil Aviation Authority will oversee the certification process to ensure the aircraft meets the country’s aviation safety standards.
LODD says the project forms part of its broader ambition to make Hili the first advanced autonomous civilian aircraft to be designed, engineered and fully certified in the UAE.
The initiative is also supported by several organisations within Abu Dhabi’s growing aviation ecosystem, including the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) through its Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster.
Officials involved in the project say the certification programme reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to developing next-generation mobility technologies while maintaining high levels of safety, innovation and operational reliability.
Once certification is complete, the Hili aircraft is expected to support commercial cargo services across middle-mile logistics, regional freight transport, healthcare supply chains, offshore operations and humanitarian missions, offering a new autonomous solution for transporting goods across the region.
