Medical drone delivery trials revolutionising the skies in Scotland
Description
Successful trials demonstrate what the next era of aviation can look like.
A pioneering project using drones to deliver medical supplies across Scotland has been heralded as a “technological revolution” by the Minister for Aviation and Maritime Mike Kane in his first official visit to the region (27 August 2024).
Meeting with Andy Cliffe, CEO of AGS Airports – which operates Aberdeen International Airport – to celebrate the airport’s 90th anniversary, the Minister is expected to see a series of measures in place to support regional connectivity across the UK, including a project trialling the use of drones to deliver medical supplies to remote locations across Scotland.
Spearheaded by the airport, Project CAELUS is backed by over £7 million in UK government funding, helping to revolutionise aviation and accelerate the development of drones across multiple industries.
In a ground-breaking first for Scotland, laboratory samples have been flown from Edinburgh to Melrose by drones, thanks to the project. A journey that usually takes up to 5 hours by road transport could now take as little as 35 minutes.
Seeing one of the project’s drones first hand, the Minister will set out his vision to continue to support the advancement and rollout of the technologies across the UK to boost prosperity and economic growth across the country.
He is also expected to reiterate the Department for Transport’s continued support to work with industry on developing sustainable solutions for regional connectivity through new technologies and greater dependency on sustainable aviation fuels.
With Aberdeen Airport playing a key role in driving the wider economic and social prosperity of the north east, this visit marks a significant step in the UK Government’s efforts to strengthen aviation infrastructure and bolster economic growth in the region.