Courier firm Pony Express Couriers has made the first parcel delivery by drone in Ireland following approval by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
The two-minute flight was successfully conducted in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin at 5pm on 28 January using a DJI Inspire 1 drone which carried a parcel weighing 250 grams from the shore to a boat at sea almost 200 metres away.
The parcel contained medical supplies including an emergency thermal blanket, an Epi-pen, bandages, plasters, thermometer, first aid leaflet, gloves, wipes and burn dressings. It also contained food and a drink in the form of a high-energy bar and water. The supplies were attached to the underside of the drone in a waterproof container.
Pony Express Couriers said that it is not planning to offer parcel delivery via drones in Dublin or Ireland “any time soon”, but is “keen to be at the leading edge of all new developments”.
Audrey Browne, operations manager of Pony Express, said: “The delivery of low value, urgent items such as takeaway food, especially to remote rural areas is highly likely. But important city deliveries such as the majority of our same-day express services could not be trusted to drones yet, the possibility of interception, loss or damage would be too great.”
“When parcel delivery by drone can be proven to work safely in an urban context, then we will reevaluate the situation, but for now we will continue offering parcel delivery by our traditional methods of bicycles, motorbike, vans and trucks,” he clarified.
In practice, drone deliveries might take some time to be implemented on a commercial basis, especially due to the regulatory hurdles to be overcome. To complete the two-minute parcel delivery flight, Pony Express Couriers had to apply for permission from the IAA weeks in advance. It also had to inform Dublin Airport of its plans because of restricted airspace rules around Dublin.
“The IAA were exceptionally good to us,” Paula Moore, an executive with Pony Express Couriers, said. “But you need very exact permission and there are lots of forms and other things to be done. So we aren’t planning on offering the service just yet. Nevertheless, we want to be at the front of innovation in the sector. And we wanted the first drone delivery flight to be completed by an Irish firm rather than a multinational delivery firm.”
The flight was organised by Belle Moore, a 10-year old student of Alexandra College Junior School, Milltown, as part of her research for her project on drones for the Intel Mini Scientist Competition which will take place in the Helix in DCU on 3 February. The IAA helped the girl with her research, providing her with details on the safety regulations for drone flights in Ireland. This flight is the first parcel delivery by drone that the IAA has sanctioned in Ireland.
“We’re delighted with the success of the first official parcel delivery in Ireland via drone under controlled conditions which met all regulatory requirements. The application of drone technology is vast and the IAA will continue to foster, promote and encourage its use with the emphasis, as always, on safety,” Ralph James, the IAA’s Director of Safety Regulation, said.
“A significant amount of research is taking place all over the world to design systems which will enable drones to safely integrate with manned aviation. Drone delivery systems is one such application. Whatever procedures are introduced in the future must guarantee the safety of manned aviation and the safety of people on the ground in urban areas,” he added.
Ireland was the first country in the world to introduce mandatory registration for all drones over 1kg. There are now over 6,000 drones and small aircraft registered with the IAA and the number continues to grow. The legislation prohibits users from operating their drones in the following cases:
* if it will be a hazard to another aircraft in flight;
* over an assembly of people;
* farther than 300m from the operator;
* within 120m of any person, vessel or structure not under the operator’s control;
* closer than 5km from an aerodrome;
* in a negligent or reckless manner so as to endanger life or property of others;
* ·over 120m above ground level;
* ·over urban areas;
* in civil or military controlled airspace;
* in restricted areas (e.g. military installations, prisons, etc.);
* unless the operator has permission from the landowner for take-off and landing.
