A FIRST-of-its-kind city trial designed to help ease the growing pressures on the healthcare system has proved it’s possible to deliver potentially life-saving supplies to hospitals via drone.
The groundbreaking experiment, conducted by city firm Skyfarer Ltd, launched a bold bid to more quickly deliver supplies between Coventry’s University Hospital and Rugby’s St. Cross via a drone flight ‘corridor’.
The trial proved the drones will be able to travel the 32km flight corridor 27 minutes quicker than driving a van.
It was also proven to save money and led to a carbon saving of more than 85 per cent.
An initial three-month trial saw medical supplies moved between the two hospitals from a central hub in the region using drones designed and manufactured by Phoenix Wings.
This was followed by a further trial with an Orca drone, which is faster and can carry a 15kg payload, compared to 500 grams.
Flights took place at a range of times in the day and in a host of different weather conditions.
Skyfarer experts claim without restrictions around flight path, drones could have completed the journey in just eight minutes.
The pilot scheme was carried out at no cost to the NHS.
Georgia Hanrahan, of Skyfarer, said: “More people have walked on the moon than been given the permissions to do the kind of trial we have just carried out, it is that rare.
“We’ve operated in daytime, night-time and in restricted airspace around commercial and recreational flights.
“We’ve been tested in a lot of different areas when it comes to using this technology for medical supplies and we have proven the feasibility of using drones for medical supplies works.
“The trials have shown it can be done with the very highest standards of safety and extremely efficiently, which reduces costs and dramatically cuts down on carbon emissions.
“By being able to utilise the Orca, which didn’t previously have clearance to fly in the UK, we have been able to up the speed of delivery and the payload which opens it up to more uses for the NHS.”
