Skyports partners with Swoop Aero for NHS Drone delivery trial in the UK
Skyports has partnered with Australian health logistics company Swoop Aero to trial drone deliveries of NHS supplies to remote areas of the UK.
With the COVID-19 pandemic causing significant logistical issues for the NHS and its hospitals, delivering regular supplies of essential health equipment, medicines, vaccinations and pathology samples to remote areas has become an increasingly difficult challenge.
The new on-demand service being trialled between two remote Scottish islands will allow for supplies to be transported more regularly and quicker than normal, which is crucial for perishable goods.
Skyports has been working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority during this project and the delivery trial requires a flight of around 17kms which requires that it operates as a BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operation. In the UK, all drone flights must normally be operated with VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) from the operating pilot at all times.
Skyports CEO Duncan Walker said, “There is a huge opportunity for drone delivery services in the UK – now more than ever. The demand for delivered goods is increasing and our service will support a wider network of hospitals and medical practices as they continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. We want more healthcare facilities to benefit from our service over the long term and the addition of the Swoop Aero platform enables us to expand our offering nationwide.”
