Virginia gets pilot project to use drone delivery for FedEx, Walgreens
Wing Aviation LLC is partnering with FedEx Express and Walgreens to launch a "first of its kind drone delivery service" in Christiansburg Virginia next month, according to a release from Wing.
Photo Courtesy Wing Aviation LLC
The pilot program is designed to "demonstrate the many benefits of drone delivery to communities by exploring methods to improve delivery time to the last mile, improve access to health products and create a new avenue of local growth. "Wing 1[ads1]96 says drone delivery in the United States" has historically been limited to small-scale demonstrations at designated test sites, or extremely short flights along pre-scheduled, fixed routes – all within the visual line Earlier this year, Wing became the first drone operator to be certified as an airline by the Federal Aviation Administration, so that it could deliver commercial goods to recipients who could be miles away. "
The Wing & # 39; s Pilot Program in Virginia will be implemented as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's unmanned aerial system integration pilot program (IPP ).
FedEx customers who live within specified delivery zones in Christiansburg and who choose to provide the delivery service Wing will be able to receive their packages via drone during the trial, provided certain operating conditions are met.
"FedEx continuously innovates and tests solutions to meet growing customer needs, and we are excited to add this pilot to our portfolio of first-rate innovation in nature," said Don Colleran, FedEx Express President and CEO.
Wing states: "Walgreens and Wing offerings will provide greater convenience and access to health and wellness, food, beverages and convenience products by making medicines and other items available to local residents for on-demand delivery, through the air, within minutes after they are ordered. "
" Through our partnership with Wing, Walgreens will be the first U.S. retailer to offer an on-demand commercial drone delivery option in the United States, allowing us to explore another omni-channel offering for the delivery of products and services our customers want and need – wherever and whenever they want them, "said Vish Sankaran, Head of Innovation Manager Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc." With this pilot, Walgree ns will be in a unique position to utilizing the convenience of drone delivery if and when it expands, with
about 78 percent of the US population living within five miles of a a Walgreens store. ”
Also, as part of the lawsuit, Wing is working with southwest Virginia retailer Sugar Magnolia to make a variety of sweet and savory goodies, gifts, stationery and stationery available for local residents to order on the drone.
“Wing has spent the last seven years developing a delivery drone and navigation system for this purpose. By delivering small packages directly to the home in minutes and making a wide range of medicines, food and other products available to customers, we will demonstrate how we expect safer, faster and cleaner local delivery to look in the future, ”Said Wing CEO James Ryan Burgess.
Christiansburg was chosen as a pilot site because Wing has been working closely with neighboring Virginia Tech's Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) for the past few years.
Residents of the area interested in registering for the trial, or learning more about any of the lawsuits, can click here.
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