A2Z Drone Delivery, an American aerospace and engineering company specialising in unmanned aerial systems, has begun the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) airworthiness review for its Longtail AirDock Edition drone. The platform is designed to support commercial drone delivery and other UAV services with the potential for extensive beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations.
The Longtail AirDock Edition has already undergone hundreds of hours of internal flight testing and can be used independently or as part of A2Z’s modular AirDock infrastructure, which features automatic battery recharging and extends the operational range of UAV services significantly. A2Z has developed a full suite of flight test cards and is gathering additional flight data to support the FAA review. The company has enlisted aviation consultants to guide it through regulatory compliance, including drafting operational manuals, safety checklists, and environmental testing.
Completing the FAA airworthiness review will provide drone operators with new opportunities to scale operations under existing commercial regulations. This includes applying for waivers under Part 107 and pursuing Part 135 certification for broader logistics use. The certification is not a requirement for Part 107 operators but may support safer and more reliable operations.
“We are excited to be working hand in hand with the FAA Emerging Technology Division in Flight Standards as we embark on this process,” said Aaron Zhang, CEO and Co-founder of A2Z Drone Delivery.
“Our Longtail AirDock Edition is a capable and mature aircraft design that has been proven safe and reliable through thousands of miles and hours of our own flight testing and is currently in operation with customers around the world.
“We are undertaking a rigorous testing schedule in anticipation of completing this review to coincide with the evolving regulations that will govern the future of commercial drone delivery and other unmanned enterprise operations here in the United States.”
Designed for a wide variety of UAV missions, the Longtail AirDock Edition is a hexacopter capable of carrying payloads up to 5kg over distances of up to 20km. Its winch system allows for delivery from up to 100 feet above ground level, keeping rotors well clear of people or structures. Use cases include last-mile logistics, emergency deliveries, inspection tasks, and law enforcement support.
The drone is a modified version of A2Z’s Longtail airframe and is optimised for compatibility with the company’s AirDock system. This ecosystem includes several dock variants that allow for charging, mission assignment, and payload handling. From compact mobile units to weather-resistant shelters and multi-UAV support docks, the AirDock network provides the infrastructure for continuous drone operations across extended areas. The aircraft falls within the FAA’s weight threshold for small, unmanned aircraft under Part 107, is fully compliant with remote ID regulations, and can be equipped with ADS-B modules and parachutes for added safety.
Through AirDock networking, A2Z aims to enable shared-use drone infrastructure that can support a range of public and private missions, from delivery services to surveillance, disaster response, and patrol. The system is designed to be scalable and collaborative, allowing agencies or operators to extend services across entire municipalities or regions with minimal physical infrastructure.
