UPS Flight Forward will develop and operate unmanned aerial systems for deliveries
UPS recently announced that it has applied to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for certification to operate commercial drone flights in the UPS network under a subsidiary business called UPS Flight Forward.
The new subsidiary is a recently incorporated business that could receive Part 135 certification as early as this year, putting UPS on track to have one of the first fully-certified, revenue-generating drone operations in the United States.
“UPS is committed to using technology to transform the way we do business. UPS’s formation of a drone delivery company and application to begin regular operations under this level of certification is historic for UPS and for the drone and logistics industries,” said Scott Price, Chief Transformation and Strategy Officer, UPS.
When approved, this certification lays the foundation for drone flights beyond an operator’s visual line of sight, and for flights occurring day or night. Such flights are highly restricted in the United States and approved only by exception.
“Innovation is at the heart of what we do at UPS,” added Rami Suleiman, President, UPS, The Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA).
