With the completion of ‘static’ flight tests for Airseas’ kite wing on transatlantic voyages by a Louis Dreyfus ro-ro chartered by Airbus, the next stage of the technology’s verification will involve “dynamic” flying.

The Seawing system has proven it can pull the 21,500-gt Ville de Bordeaux (built 2004) as it transports aircraft components between France and the US, and that its automated take-off and landing is fully functional.