First successful drone delivery made in the US
The first US government-approved drone delivery has successfully transported 4.5kg of medical supplies to a rural health clinic.
The drone, made by Australian drone manufacturer Flirtey, was approved by the Federal Aviation Authority on Friday.
The Flirtey drone made three three-minute flights from Lonesome Pine Airport, Virginia, to the clinic at the Wise County Fairgrounds, carrying 24 medical packages.
“Proving that unmanned aircraft can deliver lifesaving medicines is an important step toward a future where unmanned aircraft make routine autonomous deliveries,” said Flirtey chief executive Matt Sweeny in a statement.
The test is being hailed as proof that drones can be useful in a delivery scenario, particularly in rural and remote areas that are hard to reach via ground vehicles. But the range and flight time of drones means that opportunities are limited.
Amazon and others are currently developing the technology to make drone deliveries possible on a commercially viable scale, but rules and regulations currently governing their operation have held development back.
Current UK legislation dictates that drones cannot be flown within 50m of a building or a person or within 150 metres of a built-up area. The maximum flight height is also only 400 feet, while the drone has to remain in line of sight and within 500 metres of the pilot, which has restricted attempts to use drones for delivery or surveillance purposes.
Pilots must complete a training course and apply for a permit from the CAA to fly the drone for commercial purposes.