Magnetic MRO Takes Autonomous Airside Transport To The Next Level

Autonomous transport has been part of Magnetic MRO’s daily operations at Tallinn Airport for several years. Now, together with Auve Tech, we have reached the next milestone: the MiCa shuttles can operate without an onboard safety operator. 

On 7 October, Magnetic MRO and Auve Tech demonstrated autonomous passenger transport without an onboard safety operator in the live operational environment of Tallinn Airport. 

Auve Tech received authorization in August 2026 to remove the onboard safety operator from its passenger service at Tallinn Airport, becoming the first European company to operate autonomous passenger transport at an airport without an onboard safety operator. 

For Magnetic MRO, however, autonomous transport is not a new experiment. 

The cooperation with Auve Tech began in 2023 with testing inside the airport area and moved into commercial operations in 2025. Today, MiCa shuttles are part of Magnetic MRO’s everyday operations, connecting our hangars and supporting the continuous transport of employees and supplies across the airport’s airside area. 

The shuttles currently cover approximately 1,000 kilometres every week, with an average autonomy rate of 99.9%. 

Remote supervision enables one supervisor to oversee several vehicles and intervene when needed, rather than requiring an operator onboard each vehicle. For Magnetic MRO, this makes the solution increasingly valuable for managing the “last mile” of internal logistics efficiently. 

“For us, this is not about testing technology anymore. The autonomous vehicles are already part of our daily operations, supporting the continuous movement of people and supplies between our hangars. They help us manage the last mile of our internal logistics more efficiently, while allowing our people to focus on the work where their expertise is really needed. Removing the onboard safety operator is an important next step in making the solution even more efficient and scalable,” said Risto Mäeots, CEO of Magnetic Group. 

The 7 October demonstration brought together representatives from government, aviation and industry to experience the technology operating under remote supervision in a real airport environment. 

For Magnetic MRO, the development is another example of how new technology can move beyond testing and become part of everyday aviation operations.