DroneUp Gains FAA Approval for BVLOS Medical Deliveries, Expanding Last-Mile Logistics Capabilities

Virginia-based Drone Delivery and Drone Services Firm Enhances Healthcare Logistics with Latest FAA Approval

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb

Virginia-based drone services provider DroneUp recently announced that they had received approval from the FAA to conduct BVLOS drone deliveries. This approval will allow DroneUp to commence operations at Riverside Health System installations while paving the way for further approvals to expand deliveries elsewhere. The new approval will make DroneUp one of a select group of companies that have received a BVLOS waiver for medical deliveries.

This new approval means that DroneUp will be able to conduct flights without any kind of observation, substantially reducing the costs of “last-mile” delivery operations with the reduced human resources and accelerating the development of their medical delivery services. 

Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp, said, “Securing BVLOS approval is a testament to our dedication to safety and innovation. We have some significant technologies coming out of stealth this year, which when combined with BVLOS, will unlock commercial scalability that the industry and our customers have been eagerly awaiting.”

John Vernon, Chief Technology Officer at DroneUp, commented, “Our ability to fly BVLOS propels us into the next level of using drone technology, undoubtedly enhancing the efficiency of medical deliveries, ensuring that crucial supplies reach healthcare facilities and patients promptly.”

This new approval is merely the latest development in DroneUp’s ongoing medical industry collaboration- in July, DroneLife reported on the company’s research partnership with the Carilion Clinic to expand medical delivery drone operations in the state of Virginia. DroneUp’s UAVs are designed to fly at around 200 ft of elevation and can carry payloads of up to 10 lbs. A winch is theused to lower the payload onto a designated 12 sq. ft drop zone. 

More information on DroneUp is available here.

Read more:

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• Elsight and DroneUp: Connectivity to Achieve “Six Nines” Availability
• New DroneUp Training, Testing and Research Center Shows Their Investment in People
• Smart City Drone Delivery: DroneUp in Ontario, CA “Community, Connectivity, and Convenience”

Ian McNabb is a staff writer based in Boston, MA. His interests include geopolitics, emerging technologies, environmental sustainability, and Boston College sports.