US-based hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft developer and operator Skyways has obtained landmark approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct long-range beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone flights over water from the US coast. The approval is the first of its kind for an uncrewed aircraft and opens the door to new opportunities in commercial drone operations to support offshore industries.

The authorization allows Skyways to operate its V2 hybrid VTOL aircraft on flights between a Shell Pipeline facility in Gibson, Louisiana and an offshore Shell platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The planned mission will combine two activities in one flight, inspecting a pipeline right-of-way and simulating the delivery of equipment to the offshore installation.

The development is in response to an increasing demand from the oil and gas industry for autonomous aircraft to support offshore operations. But there’s still the regulatory hurdle for unmanned aircraft to deliver cargo to oil production platforms in international waters.

Andrew Aubrey, Skyways’ vise president of commercial business development, said the company plans to expand its offshore services to include cargo deliveries to oil platforms. Current restrictions on unmanned systems operating on the high seas remain a limiting factor for such activities, he added.

Therefore, Skyways is working with the FAA to find a regulatory path to allow these additional capabilities and meet the specific requirements of oil and gas operators.

The FAA waiver certificate will be in effect until October 2030. Aubrey said: “Skyways is targeting first quarter of 2027 for the commencement of offshore pipeline inspection operations. The company and Shell have begun coordinating airspace safety preparations for the planned flights.

With a range of approximately 450 miles and a maximum payload of 30 pounds, the V2 aircraft is able to conduct long-range offshore missions, including inspection activities and the transportation of lightweight equipment.

Developing a Framework for Larger-Scale Drone Operations

Skyways and Shell had to provide a proposed concept of operations and a detailed safety assessment to obtain FAA authorization. The documentation detailed the key operational risks and measures to reduce them.

The safety measures proposed were drawn from Skyways’ experience in the past carrying international cargo missions over the high seas, said Gabrielle Wain, Skyways’ vise president of regulatory, policy and government affairs.

These operations have included missions for the US navy, Japan’s Ministry of Defense, DSV, Skyports Drone Services and All Nippon Airways.

The authorization process took about 3 months from the formal application until approval. But Wain said talks and preparatory work involving Skyways, Shell and the FAA had started well before the application was filed.

The FAA views the approval as a further step in its wider effort to expand drone operations across the United States, while maintaining appropriate safety standards. “The regulatory framework will need to adapt and keep pace with technological innovation to facilitate the next generation of commercial unmanned aircraft operations,” said Acting FAA Deputy Administrator Liam McKenna.

The decision, he said, was a first-of-its-kind authorization and demonstrates how the agency is working with industry to move beyond traditional operational restrictions and enable new commercial drone applications.

Skyways introduces its long-range Skyreach aircraft

Alongside the FAA announcement, Skyways unveiled Skyreach, a new long-range autonomous hybrid VTOL cargo aircraft developed for both defence and commercial customers. The company intends to begin flight operations with the aircraft in December 2026.

Skyreach is designed for significantly longer missions than the V2, with a range exceeding 1,300 miles and an endurance of more than 18 hours. Its combined fuel and payload capacity reaches 100 pounds, while its maximum take-off weight is 360 pounds.

The aircraft's development received support through a $37 million grant awarded by the US Air Force's AFWERX programme, announced in June 2025.

Since receiving the funding, Skyways has completed the aircraft's production design, progressed through flight qualification testing and launched manufacturing operations in Austin, Texas.

Skyways co-founder and Chief Executive Charles Acknin said the company's long-term objective is to deploy a network of more than 1,000 autonomous aircraft serving defence and commercial customers within five years.

According to Acknin, the ambition is to establish a new generation of aviation capabilities and unlock operational opportunities that were previously impractical.

The FAA authorization and the introduction of Skyreach illustrate Skyways' broader strategy of developing autonomous aircraft for demanding long-range missions. By combining offshore inspection capabilities, potential cargo delivery services and the development of higher-endurance aircraft, the company is positioning itself to serve a wider range of industrial and defence logistics requirements.