Aircraft & operator airworthiness spec
SkyMesh Local is the routing and marketplace layer. Flight operators bring certified aircraft that meet this specification before any dispatch is released to them.
1 · Operator applies and lists each airframe (make, model, FAA registration, Remote ID module). 2 · Upload of Part 107 certificate, airspace authorizations, and a certificate of insurance naming SkyMesh Local as additional insured. 3 · SkyMesh reviews the airframe against this specification and enables dispatch only for the corridors the operator is authorized to fly. 4 · Recheck every 12 months, or immediately after any reportable incident.
Aircraft that do not meet a required line item cannot be enabled on the network. Preferred items affect which corridors and weather windows the aircraft is offered.
Payload capacity
≥ 5.0 lbs usable payload with a sealed or latched cargo bay
SkyMesh only routes parcels inside the platform weight ceiling; the aircraft must carry it with margin.
Cargo envelope
Minimum internal bay of 24 × 18 × 12 inches, or a certified underslung pod of equal volume
Matches the dimension gate applied to merchant inventory at ingestion.
Endurance
≥ 25 minutes loaded endurance with 20% reserve at max payload
Covers a 5-mile out-and-back corridor plus hold time over the drop pad.
Wind tolerance
Manufacturer-rated sustained wind tolerance ≥ 25 mph
SkyMesh grounds dispatch above 15 mph, so the aircraft must have headroom above the cutoff.
Ingress protection
IP43 or better airframe and motor sealing
Light precipitation encountered mid-corridor must not force a diversion.
Parachute / flight-termination system
Ballistic or spring-deployed recovery chute sized to MTOW
Required for any operations over people waivers and for insurer acceptance.
Redundancy
Hexacopter or better, or a quad with dual-redundant flight controller, IMU, and battery bus
Single-point motor failure must not become an uncontrolled descent over a residential drop zone.
Detect and avoid
ADS-B In receiver plus forward/downward obstacle sensing
Feeds the SkyMesh airspace deconfliction queue and keeps manned-traffic separation.
Remote ID
FAA-compliant Standard Remote ID broadcast module (14 CFR Part 89)
Non-negotiable for legal flight in US airspace.
Geofencing
Onboard geofence enforcement honoring uploaded no-fly polygons and altitude ceilings
SkyMesh pushes corridor and no-fly data per dispatch; the aircraft must enforce it independently.
Telemetry link
LTE/5G modem with continuous position, battery, and airspeed reporting at ≥ 1 Hz
Powers the live flight map and the customer's ETA.
Delivery camera
Downward camera capable of capturing a proof-of-delivery still at the pad
Proof of Delivery snapshots are attached to every completed order.
Delivery method
Winch/tether lowering or verified sub-10 ft descent-and-release
Backyard drop pads are tight; rotor wash and descent height are the main damage vectors.
Flight log export
Per-flight logs retained 12 months and exportable on request (CSV or .ulg/.bin)
Needed for incident review, insurer claims, and FAA inquiries.
Remote Pilot Certificate
Part 107 certificate current for every pilot in command on the account
Baseline legal authority to fly commercially.
Operational authorization
Documented authority for the operation flown: LAANC authorization in controlled airspace, plus BVLOS or over-people waiver where the corridor requires it
SkyMesh dispatches only into corridors the operator is legally authorized to fly.
Aircraft registration
FAA registration number for each airframe listed on the operator profile
Tied to Remote ID and to the flight record for every dispatch.
Insurance
Aviation liability, minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence, with SkyMesh Local named as additional insured, plus hull coverage on each airframe
The operator flying the aircraft carries the flight risk. See the coverage split below.
Maintenance program
Written pre-flight checklist plus logged airframe/battery cycle tracking
Insurers and the FAA both ask for it after any incident.
Flight operators carry aviation liability and hull. They own the aircraft, employ the pilot in command, and hold the operational authority — the flight risk sits with them. Minimum $1M per occurrence, SkyMesh Local named as additional insured, hull coverage on each airframe, and workers' compensation where they employ crew.
SkyMesh Local carries platform-level cover: technology errors & omissions, cyber, and general/contingent liability that responds if routing, geofence, or weather-gating logic is alleged to be at fault. That is the exposure the platform actually creates.
Merchants carry their own product liability for what goes in the box, and are responsible for correct weight, packaging, and hazard declaration.
Reference list only — SkyMesh Local is not affiliated with these manufacturers and approval is per airframe and per operator, not per brand.