Elroy Air partners with FedEx for cargo drone testing

Elroy Air and FedEx have partnered to test Elroy’s Chaparral C1 cargo drone. The joint partnership, with FedEx subsidiary FedEx Express, will begin flight testing by 2023. Elroy told Cargo Facts there is potential for both domestic and international testing and that the primary focus of the trials will be express shipments. [caption id="attachment_417852" align="alignright" width="560"] Elroy hopes to begin flight tests by 2023. (Photo/Elroy Air)[/caption] In a joint statement from the two companies, FedEx said the exponential demand in e-commerce has accelerated the demand for reliable and efficient transportation and logistics solutions throughout all stages of the supply chain. California-based startup Elroy announced the Chaparral in January 2022 . The fully autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) hybrid-electric cargo drone is designed to transport 300 to 500 lbs of cargo over a 300-mile range. Elroy added that its aim is to enable ramp-station operations in the long term, allowing the aircraft to serve cargo transport missions without requiring an airport. FedEx also has invested in new feeder aircraft like the Cessna SkyCourier, which achieved certification earlier in March . FedEx ultimately plans to operate at least fifty of the new Textron turboprops. The cargo drone market has continued to expand in the past year. Dronamics in December 2021 announced the Black Swan , which is capable of carrying up to 700 lbs over 1,500 miles, while UPS will purchase up to 160 piloted electric VTOL aircraft from Beta Technologies. Chinese express carrier SF Airlines also announced in 2021 a partnership with Pipistrel to develop VTOL drones of its own. Cargo Facts EMEA will take place LIVE May 9-11 in Dubai. Learn more and register.

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