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AURA Network Systems and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site have released a flight-test report documenting the performance of voice-relay services during Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
The report was sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration as part of its Broad Agency Announcement program. It presents specific metrics for real-time clarity and latency that align with RTCA DO-377 standards, which govern communications for remote pilots. These tests focused on a hybrid voice-relay architecture designed to connect remote pilots to air traffic control by utilizing a UHF command-and-control link alongside legacy VHF systems.
Conducted in partnership with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, the evaluations assessed the aviation-grade voice link across several BVLOS scenarios. This capability is considered essential for the safe integration of uncrewed aircraft systems into the National Airspace System, particularly for communications between remote pilots and air traffic controllers.
Kevin Steen, Chief Executive Officer of AURA, said, “This report underscores what we’ve built: a reliable, aviation-grade voice link that delivers clarity, speed, and trust — precisely what remote pilots and air traffic controllers need to operate safely and confidently.”
To measure the quality of the transmissions, the teams utilized the Perceptual Objective Listening Quality Analysis standard. This global method evaluates how speech is transmitted over networks and is a common benchmark for the aviation, telecommunications, and emergency services sectors. During the testing, the results met or exceeded Federal Aviation Administration benchmarks in every scenario, confirming high levels of intelligibility for both male and female voice samples.
Trevor Woods, Executive Director of NPUASTS, added, “Clear, reliable voice communications are critical for BVLOS flight. These tests show that AURA’s system delivers — and we’re proud to help advance the technologies that make safe integration possible.”
AURA’s network utilizes exclusive, licensed spectrum to provide secure, low-latency communications for both crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The documented testing proved the system’s ability to convert analog voice to digital and back while adhering to the latency and intelligibility requirements defined in RTCA DO-377B. This updated standard, published in December 2023, establishes the minimum performance requirements for command-and-control link systems and supports emerging applications for uncrewed aircraft.
The methodology involved simulating real-world terminal environments. Surrogate pilots and controllers communicated using AURA’s airborne and ground radios, while an independent team from the University of North Dakota Aerospace performed rigorous assessments of the voice quality.
