Abu Dhabi Drone Firm LODD Launches Airworthiness Certification Process for Hili Hybrid VTOL
UAE drone developer and aviation logistics company LODD has formally submitted its flagship Hili hybrid-powered unmanned VTOL to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for airworthiness certification. Capable of carrying 250 kg over 700 km, Hili aims to become the UAE's first advanced autonomous civil aircraft fully designed, engineered, and certified domestically.
Highlights
- LODD has formally submitted the Hili hybrid VTOL to the UAE GCAA for airworthiness certification, marking the aircraft's transition from R&D to the path toward commercial operations.
- Hili features a hybrid propulsion system with a maximum payload of 250 kg and a range of 700 km (approximately 378 nautical miles).
- Hili completed its maiden flight in November 2025 at the Emirates Falcon Aviation facility in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi.
- If certified, Hili will become the UAE's first advanced autonomous civil aircraft fully designed, engineered, and certified domestically.
- The program is backed by Abu Dhabi Mobility and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), with target applications spanning healthcare, energy, industrial supply chains, and humanitarian relief.
UAE drone developer and aviation logistics company LODD has formally submitted its flagship aircraft Hili to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for airworthiness certification, marking a pivotal milestone on the road to commercialization.
Aircraft Overview
Hili is an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft equipped with a hybrid propulsion system. It boasts a maximum payload capacity of 250 kg and a range of 700 km (approximately 378 nautical miles), giving it the capability to conduct long-distance cargo missions.
Certification Process and Regulatory Framework
The certification program will be overseen by the Abu Dhabi government body the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, which is dedicated to advancing autonomous mobility systems, while the GCAA serves as the formal certifying authority.
The certification process will cover the following areas:
- Airworthiness compliance verification
- Ground and flight testing
- Operational assessment
- Safety review
Once certified, Hili is expected to become the UAE's first advanced autonomous civil aircraft to be fully designed, engineered, and certified domestically — a significant achievement for the UAE's emerging aerospace sector.
Maiden Flight Completed in November 2025
Hili completed its maiden test flight in November 2025 at the Emirates Falcon Aviation facility in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, laying the groundwork for the subsequent certification process.
Backed by Key Abu Dhabi Aviation Ecosystem Institutions
LODD has secured support from several major Abu Dhabi institutions for this program, including:
- Abu Dhabi Mobility (Integrated Transport Centre): The government body responsible for planning Abu Dhabi's transport and logistics infrastructure
- Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO): Dedicated to driving commercial development and foreign investment attraction in the emirate
Wide Range of Applications
LODD envisions Hili being deployed across healthcare, energy, and industrial supply chain sectors, as well as humanitarian relief operations.
CEO: Certification Launch Reflects Program Maturity
LODD CEO Rashid Al Manai stated in the announcement press release: "Formally entering the certification process demonstrates the maturity of the Hili program and marks its transition from research and development to the path toward commercial operations. This brings us closer to delivering a cargo aviation system developed in the UAE with supervised autonomous capabilities — one that has the potential to transform the way critical goods are transported across the UAE, the wider region, and beyond."
LODD has not yet announced a specific timeline for the completion of the certification process or the entry into service of the aircraft.
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