UPS to expand company’s drone delivery network
UPS subsidiary UPS Flight Forward recently announced it has received the U.S. government’s first full Standard certification to operate a drone airline.
The company will initially expand its drone delivery service further to support hospital campuses around the country, and to provide solutions for customers beyond those in the healthcare industry. UPS Flight Forward plans in the future to transport a variety of items for customers in many industries.
The UPS subsidiary immediately launched the first drone delivery flight by any company at WakeMed’s hospital campus in Raleigh, NC. That flight, using a Matternet M2 quadcopter, was flown under a government exemption allowing for a ‘beyond visual line of sight’ (BVLOS) operation, also a first in the U.S. for a regular revenue-generating delivery.
Earlier this year, UPS partnered with drone-maker Matternet to launch its healthcare delivery service on the WakeMed campus. This first ever revenue-generating service demonstrated the business case for drone delivery of medical products and specimens.
“This is history in the making, and we aren’t done yet,” remarked David Abney, UPS Chief Executive Officer. “Our technology is opening doors for UPS and solving problems in unique ways for our customers,” he added.
