Boeing Partners with Robotic Skies to Provide Commercial UAS Supply Chain Optimization, Analytics, and MRO Services

The two companies will provide services for commercially-focused regulatory compliance, ground support, training, parts distribution, field upgrades, and vehicle retrofit capabilities for unmanned aircraft systems (UASs).

(Image source: Boeing)

Boeing  of Chicago, Ill. and its subsidiaries, Denver-based Jeppesen and Pittsburgh-based Aviall  , have joined with Robotic Skies  , a commercial unmanned aircraft system (UAS) support services provider, to develop and deliver supply chain management and optimization, analytics, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for the civil UAS market.

"Teaming with Boeing will allow both companies to elevate the commercial UAS customer experience and deliver operations solutions that would be difficult to achieve individually," says Brad Hayden, Robotic Skies CEO. "This agreement represents a foundational step for the advancement of commercial UAS operations that will meet the requirements of today and help shape the future of unmanned flight."

Boeing and Robotic Skies will jointly pursue opportunities to best leverage their extensive combined experience and solutions in manned aviation programs and extend them into the UAS market, including providing services for commercially-focused regulatory compliance, ground support, training, MRO, parts distribution, field upgrades, and vehicle retrofit capabilities.

"We continue our dedication to working with the top providers in the industry to increase our presence in the commercial UAS field, with the ultimate goal of helping customers operate more efficiently," says William Ampofo, vice president, Business & General Aviation, Boeing Global Services. "Our relationship with Robotic Skies will bring together the best elements of both companies, as we shape our capabilities specifically to meet the unique operational requirements and challenges of commercial UAS flight."

As their relationship continues to expand, the companies will provide unified operations services for both existing commercial UAS operators and for companies seeking to enter the UAS field for the first time.

The announcement comes during the Commercial UAV Expo 2018  in Las Vegas, among several other announcements regarding advanced beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) capabilities, UAS automation, and newly developed delivery drones.

Founded in 2014, Robotic Skies is a brokered network of over 150 certified repair stations across more than 30 countries and provides MRO and additional support services for commercial UAS.

William Kucinski  is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include 'literally anything that has to do with space,' past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology. And also sportscars.