Skyports Drone Services has announced Speedbird Aero as a new aircraft partner in the Orkney I-Port drone delivery project.
Speedbird Aero has been selected as the latest aircraft partner to join Skyports Drone Services’ drone fleet. The Brazilian manufacturer will provide its DLV-2 aircraft for Skyports Drone Services’ global delivery and logistics projects, starting with three months of inter-island delivery flights for the Royal Mail as part of the Orkney I-Port project, an initiative also involving Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority and Loganair.
The electric multi-rotor DLV-2 drone, which has a payload capacity of 6kg and a range of up to 16km, was selected as vehicle of choice for the Orkney I-Port project due to its large payload volume, which makes it well suited to carrying cargo such as Royal Mail parcels. First deliveries were completed in July this year and will continue until October. The aircraft is also equipped with a parachute.
The weather and geography of Orkney makes it challenging for the Royal Mail to provide an uninterrupted delivery service and disruption to the ferry schedule is common during poor weather due to the challenges of docking safely. The DLV-2 aircraft has been selected due to its ability to fly in weather conditions that exceed the upper limits of the Orkney inter-island ferry.
The DLV-2 has a payload capacity of 6kg and a range of up to 16km
Fleet development
The Speedbird DLV-2 is the latest aircraft to be onboarded by Skyports Drone Services, following Pyka Pelican Cargo earlier this year. The drone service provider has been reinforcing and consolidating its aircraft fleet to meet growing market demand and serve its drone logistics, survey and monitoring customers.
Alex Brown, director, Skyports Drone Services, said: “Our approach to fleet development is to onboard a select number of vehicle providers that can match market growth, scale with us and meet the requirements of the locations in which we operate.
“Speedbird is an example of the type of manufacturer we love to work with. The company’s commitment to quality, safety and innovation make it best-in-class and an excellent addition to our fleet. The Orkney I-Port project, with its renowned project partners and objective of improving community access with drones, is a great place to kick off the partnership.”
Orkney I-Port flights will be conducted under existing regulatory frameworks, making it possible to extend beyond the initial three-month period. This is due to the proximity of the take-off and landing locations and the ability for flights to be conducted using extended visual line of sight (EVLOS). In addition to the Orkney I-Port project, the DLV-2 will be deployed on logistics and delivery projects across Skyports Drone Services markets.
Images: Skyports Drone Services
