Skyports Drone Services tests medical deliveries in Kaga, Japan

Skyports Drone Services successfully completed a drone delivery proof of concept this month in partnership with Kaga, Japan and Kanematsu Corp.

Transporting simulated blood and other materials of up to 3 kilograms between Kaga Medical Centre to Kaga Onsen Care Centre and Yamanaka Onsen Nukumori Clinic, the flight paths mirrored high-demand transport routes to establish the time and cost savings that can be achieved with beyond visual line of sight drone operations.

[caption id="attachment_57135023" align="alignright" width="300"] Kaga Mayor Riku Miyamoto, center, joins representatives from Skyports, Kanematsu Corp., Kaga City Council, NTT Communications and venue host Kaga Medical Centre. (Photo/Skyports Drone Services)[/caption] “Our next step following the Kaga City [proof of concept] is to explore how we can extend the drone delivery network,” Maggie Mullan , PR and communications manager at London-based Skyports, told Air Cargo Next . “The Kaga City project is an excellent case study for how drone applications can improve health care services through improved connectivity and access.

“Our objective is to grow the drone industry, build a network of experienced drone pilots and operational hubs so that we can one day see these services expanded across the whole of Japan,” she said.

Proof-of-concept test shows promise The flights reduced transport time by more than 50% compared with transport via land, according to Skyports.

“We used the Swoop Aero Kookaburra, a highly automated fixed-wing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft capable of carrying loads of up to 3 kilograms,” Mullan said. “We have worked with Swoop for a long time and use this vehicle for operations around the world, flying thousands of flights each year.”

The Swoop is just one aircraft Skyports operates.

“We have several aircraft types in our fleet to enable us to always choose the right vehicle for the operations we are performing,” she said. “This decision is based on many factors, including whether it’s a cargo flight, the payload, flight distance, landing requirements, and each decision is based on extensive testing and knowledge of the aircraft’s capabilities.”

The trial results will be used to select future takeoff and landing sites, and to map optimal flight paths to account for high-level airspace users and ground elements.

[caption id="attachment_57135022" align="alignright" width="300"] Kaga Mayor Riku Miyamoto receives a package after arrival at Kaga Medical Centre from Kaga Onsen Care Centre via drone. (Photo/Skyports Drone Services)[/caption] “Drones bring a wealth of benefits to the health care sector,” Mullan said. “We’ve been working with health care providers, such as the National Health Service in the U.K., since 2019 to test and trial medical drone deliveries, and have seen the positive impact on health care providers and patients firsthand. Medical delivery by drone brings significant time savings, meaning medical materials, patient test samples and medicines can be delivered as they are needed to the people that need them.

“In hard-to-reach, rural and island locations, the use of drones can unlock health care access, ensuring that irrespective of where someone is located, they can receive the care that they require,” she added. “In addition to the huge impact on patient care and well-being, the use of eVTOLs is also significantly more sustainable than many existing logistics solutions. As these operations scale, the benefits to cost reduction, emissions reduction and time savings will also grow exponentially.”

Partners look to expand concept Kaga Mayor Riku Miyamoto said he expects the collaboration with Skyports to “set a standard for the rest of the country.”

However, the drone delivery services address logistical and safety challenges, according to Skyports authorities.

“Japan has a diverse landscape that encompasses mountainous terrain and thousands of islands and water bodies, making it a prime location to benefit from drone technology,” Skyports’ Japan Country Manager Atsushi Okada said in a release.

“This milestone is a significant step forward that will provide a strong roadmap for the wider-scale adoption of drone technology in Japan,” he added.

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