Pathfinder 1 Receives Exhibition Airworthiness Certificate

Earlier this month, Pathfinder 1 received approval for a new Exhibition Airworthiness Certification. The new designation is part of LTA Research’s advanced flight testing program, expanding how the proof-of-concept aircraft can be operated. 

This designation comes in addition to the existing Research and Development (R&D) certification the team has been flying under, which recently authorized operations within an increased flight envelope around the San Francisco Bay Area. 

The Exhibition category allows the aircraft to be flown in a wider range of settings, including demonstrations and other public flights as well as greater flexibility in carrying the team and others to demonstrate the capabilities of next-generation airships.

As we advance through the flight test program, this regulatory approval allows the LTA team to collect data in additional environments and continue to test the airship’s reliability, safety and operational capability. Each flight brings us closer to demonstrating that next-generation airships are adaptable, sustainable, and efficient, and poised to play a transformative role in aviation.