Also: Nearly 2,000 Waivers Granted, Drone Shuts Down Firefighters, Underwater UAV, Nevada Signs Autonomous Systems Letter

The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing an $805 million contract to build the Navy’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft, the MQ-25 aerial refueler.

Boeing, which was awarded the engineering and manufacturing development contract to provide four aircraft, will conduct its work on the MQ-25A Stingray in St. Louis, Missouri. “As a company, we made an investment in both our team and in an unmanned aircraft system that meets the U.S. Navy’s refueling requirements,” says Leanne Caret, president and CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Ford employees are now using cameras mounted on drones to safely and efficiently inspect high-rise gantries, pipework and roof areas at the company’s Dagenham Engine Plant in the UK. Previously, the team carried out this important maintenance work by using automated extendable platforms and scaffolding to check 40-metre-long gantries that support the plant’s heavy machinery. Each inspection area would take a laborious 12 hours to complete. Now, with feet firmly on the ground and controlling drones equipped with GoPro cameras, maintenance staff can thoroughly inspect each area in just 12 minutes. Uber has unveiled a vision for expanding its "Uber Eats" delivery service to include drones using some of the same infrastructure it plans to build for its flying taxi service. The company made the announcement at the third annual Uber Elevate conference being held in Tokyo. During a presentation at the conference, Uber said food delivery by drone is a natural extension of Uber Air. Uber envisions using the same "Skyports" that will serve as bases for Uber Air for food delivery services. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unmanned!!!

Airborne-Unmanned 09.04.18 is chock full of info in this Weekly News Episode, Tuesday, September 4th, 2018... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Hosts Brianne Cross, Christopher Odom, and Laura Hutson, and is supported by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell, Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, and Aero-Journalist Tom Patton, this episode covers:

• Boeing To Build U.S. Navy's First Operational Carrier-based Unmanned Aircraft
• Ford Inspection Drones Keep Engine Plant Workers Safely Grounded 
• Uber Eats Eyes Drone Delivery Of Food
• Nearly 2,000 Waivers Granted To Operate Beyond Part 107
• Drone Shuts Down Firefighting Efforts In Oregon
• New Drone Can Take A Quick Trip Underwater
• The State Of Nevada Signs Historic Autonomous Systems Letter Of Intent

Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again next week for the next edition of "Airborne-Unmanned" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you, again, next week!

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