Swoop Aero and Partners to Launch Drone Network in Kenya
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M Crosby
Today, Swoop Aero announced a partnership with Astral Aviation subsidiary Astral Aerial Solutions and Skyports for the launch of a drone logistics network in Kenya.
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The partnership will see Swoop Aero make full use of its complete technology infrastructure and drone logistics experience to enable the transport of medicines, vaccines, and medical samples to patients and healthcare facilities throughout Kenya, with last-mile delivery set to launch by the end of 2022. This will be the first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operation in Kenya, and will be carried out in close coordination with the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority to ensure safety and compliance with local regulations.
“We’re excited to be expanding Swoop Aero’s service in Kenya in partnership with Astral Aerial Solutions and Skyports, in what will be a first for the region,” said Swoop Aero CEO Eric Peck. “Kenya represents the 14th country in which the Swoop Aero technology platform has underpinned BVLOS drone logistics regulatory approvals. The regulatory approvals and operations will bring Swoop Aero closer to providing an integrated drone logistics service to 100 million people by 2025.”
“We’re excited to be coming together with Skyports and Swoop Aero to offer last-mile delivery solutions in Kenya,” said Astral Aerial Solutions CEO Kush Gadhia. “This partnership presents a unique opportunity to reduce delivery times and increase accessibility to healthcare and other industries that may support drone logistics into the future.”
“This week Astral Aerial Solutions, Swoop Aero and Skyports flew Kenya’s first Beyond Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone deliveries,” said Alex Brown, Director of Drone Services at Skyports, which previously partnered with Swoop Aero for the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the UK. “These first flights represent the key first step of our plan to bring drone deliveries to Kenyan communities, improving connectivity, logistics and healthcare”.
The introduction of drone-based services has the potential to significantly improve the Kenyan healthcare system by providing greater access to healthcare across the nation. Though currently focused on the healthcare sector, Swoop Aero intends to develop further applications for drone logistics in Kenya later this year. The introduction of the Kite aircraft to Swoop Aero’s technology platform allows for real-time tracking, capture, and analytics, as well as cross-industry functionalities such as aerial mapping and monitoring, search and rescue capabilities, and emergency response and disaster management.
Read more about Swoop Aero:
- Swoop Aero in Christchurch NZ: Partnership for Urban Network Drone Deliveries
- Swoop Aero, Skyports, BD Rowa Partner: Air Logistics in the Pharmaceutical Industry
- Cold Chain Drone Delivery: Swoop Aero Delivers Ultra-Cold Pfizer Vaccines in Malawi
- Swoop Aero in Namibia: Africa Continues to Lead the Way in Medical Drone Delivery
- Swoop Aero BVLOS Approval in Australia, for Medical Drone Delivery Ops
Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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