Matternet’s FAA-approved drones use this parachute recovery gear

Matternet’s M2 recently became the first drone built specifically for package deliveries to achieve Type Certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Now we have more details about the safety components as well as the parachute recovery system the M2 used to comply with the airworthiness criteria established by the FAA.

To gain the FAA’s stamp of approval on its aircraft’s design safety, Matternet partnered with California-based drone parachute manufacturer Fruity Chutes. The company provided Matternet with essential safety gear including shock cords, harnesses, and Iris Ultralight parachutes.

Fruity Chutes also worked directly with Matternet’s staff to provide technical support for integrating the safety components into the M2 drone during a four-year, rigorous FAA evaluation process. However, the actual partnership between the two companies goes as far back as six years, according to Gene Engelgau, founder and CEO of Fruity…