Isle of Wight drone delivery trial

At the daily coronavirus update (24 April 2020) MP Grant Shapps unveiled a drone delivery trial between the mainland UK and the Isle of Wight.

I have also given the green light to trials of drones delivering medical supplies.

Earlier this year, we awarded £28 million to Southampton and Portsmouth to develop a Future Transport Zone.

As part of that initiative, £8 million was earmarked for testing drones, and how they might be used for delivering goods in the years and decades ahead.

Of course, now we have an urgent need, so we’re making use of that testing programme as part of our response to COVID-19.

As a result, I have fast-tracked trials to begin next week to carry medical supplies and equipment to St Mary’s Hospital, near Newport on the Isle of Wight.

Just in time medical supplies are just about the only use case that makes any sense to me for drones.

Lets hope the findings are positive, perhaps they might end up using a more modern platform. A helicopter or VTOL, and one would hope electric. Right now it looks like 1974 is calling. But to be fair it will be reliable and will work.

With an empty sky this is an excellent time to start catching up with Zipline, Wingcopter and Swoop Aero.