Laila, Oman’s new pilotless carrier ready for testing

Oman is getting ready to test a new pilotless aircraft called Laila, which can carry cargo to remote areas much faster than road transport. The aircraft can fly long distances, take off and land vertically, and carry around 60 kg of important goods, making it useful for oil fields, offshore platforms, and emergency cargo deliveries. These cargo trials will begin once Laila arrives in Oman after final tests in the United States.

Laila is built by US company Odys Aviation and is part of Oman’s Advanced Air Mobility programme. The aircraft can fly up to 725 km, which means it can transport tools, spare parts, and mission-critical equipment in under three hours — much faster than the 36-hour road journeys needed today. This will help companies move cargo quickly to remote desert and coastal locations.

The aircraft can also be used to inspect pipelines and key infrastructure, carry medical supplies to isolated communities, and support disaster-relief operations. Laila can land almost anywhere as it does not need a runway, making it flexible for many cargo missions.