Burlington Airpark’s autonomous flyers seal $1.3-million deal

Ribbit, a cargo airline startup that develops software for autonomous flight, has signed a $1.3-million contract with Transport Canada and Innovative Solutions Canada to begin testing self-flying aircraft in remote northern regions.

The company, founded in 2020 by Carl Pigeon and Jeremy Wang, has completed over 200 hours of hands-free flight on a two-seat airplane, and is rapidly advancing operational testing and evaluation in preparation for commercial service.

The company will provide Transport Canada with a single aircraft along with remote crew and maintenance services to sustain autonomous cargo flights for a one-year period. Transport Canada will also leverage this data to help inform future aviation regulations, standards and policy.

Last summer at the Burlington Airpark, after 14 months of development, Ribbit demonstrated the ability to take off and land using its in-house autopilot system while the onboard safety pilot monitors the flight.

“Basically, it’s like a self-driving car, the only difference is we’re in the air,” Pigeon said.

Ribbit sees its technology as a solution to pressing logistical issues facing northern communities and businesses.

“Many rural and remote areas are served by larger airplanes that fly infrequently,” Pigeon said. “At Ribbit, we take a smaller aircraft and use autonomy to drastically change the unit economics of that plane. This lets us offer reliable next-day or two-day service for these communities and improve their supply chain.”

Ribbit was issued a Special Flight Operations Certificate in 2022 authorizing flight tests with no one aboard, and the company has received several letters of intent from leading wholesalers and retailers totalling $42M/yr in future revenue.

“We have been working with government, community, and private partners to ensure that this technology will serve a real need. We are excited to enable a future where anybody can ship and receive goods quickly and reliably no matter where they are located”, Wang added.

The company is initially focused on shipping time-sensitive goods to northern Canada, where million pounds of food alone are flown in annually. However, the long-term vision will see autonomous aircraft used for a wide range of cargo operations and aerial work.

“Whether it is air cargo or aerial monitoring for maritime patrol or emergency scenarios, we have identified several key applications for the technology,” Wang said. “What sets us apart is our ability to understand and rethink how autonomy will impact the broader operation”.

About Ribbit

Ribbit is a venture-backed cargo airline that uses self-flying airplanes to help businesses improve their supply chain and reach new markets. Founded in 2020 and based in Toronto, Ribbit has developed software that can autonomously operate airplanes and is credited with the first hands-free gate-to-gate flight in Canada – at the Burlington Airpark. Ribbit is working actively with aviation regulators as well as private and public sector customers to make transportation accessible to everyone