A handful of start-ups, including California-based Pyka, are developing pilotless fixed-wing aircraft, initially for crop spraying and cargo delivery, with the ultimate ambition of carrying passengers. While much public attention has focused on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) "air taxis," this quieter effort to build autonomous planes could, according to some in the industry, reach passenger service before eVTOLs do, potentially reshaping short-haul regional travel.

Pyka's crop-spraying aircraft, which have an 11.5m wingspan and are sometimes described as large drones, are already operating in Brazil spraying crops such as cotton and soybeans, work previously done by human pilots. The fully electric planes fly for about 35 minutes, carry up to 300 litres of spray, and can operate lower to the ground than a human pilot, reducing chemical drift. Experts note autonomous planes have lagged behind self-driving cars because of stricter aviation safety standards and greater investment in automotive technology, though military interest and defence contracts are helping accelerate development.