A beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) medical drone delivery operation has been launched in Abruzzo, as part of the SESAR Joint Undertaking U-ELCOME project’s Italian Cluster. The cluster is coordinated by Italian air navigation services provider ENAV and the project is co-funded by the European Commission CINEA – European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
The operational launch flight on July 30th, carried out by Telespazio with the support of Dronus and D-Flight, successfully delivered hospital medicines from Avezzano to the pharmacy in Collelongo using a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing uncrewed system. The distance covered was 30km.
In a LinkedIn post, ENAV U-space researcher Giovanni Riccardi said the launch was conducted in partnership with ASL1 and the municipalities of Collelongo, Montereale and Rocca di Mezzo, with the aim of improving access to essential medicines in remote areas via safe, prompt and sustainable means. Riccardi also shared a video of the flight.
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Image: Giovanni Riccardi / ENAV
