Air, Freight News

Pony Express does Ireland’s first official drone drop

[ January 30, 2017   //   Chris ]

Pony Express Couriers completed the first ever Ireland’s first Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) approved parcel delivery by drone in late January.

The flight, at Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin was performed by the country’s largest same-day courier, and took just two minutes to complete from take-off to parcel drop, with the DJI Inspire 1 drone taking the quarter kilo parcel, from the shoreline to a boat at sea almost 200 metres away.

The parcel contained medical supplies: an emergency thermal blanket, an Epi-pen, bandages, plasters, thermometer, first aid leaflet, gloves, wipes and burn dressings, a high-energy bar and water, all attached to the underside of the drone in a waterproof container.

Pony Express Couriers is not planning on offering a drone parcel delivery service in Dublin or Ireland any time soon, but was delighted to be involved in Ireland’s first drone parcel delivery, said operations manager, Audrey Browne.

He sees a role for delivery of low value, urgent items to remote rural areas but important city deliveries could not be trusted to drones yet, as the possibility of interception, loss or damage would be too great.

Pony Express is not planning to retire any of its bicycles, motorbike, vans or trucks just yet.

Tags: Pony Express