NEW DELHI, Dec 11: Low-cost carrier SpiceJet on Saturday said it plans to introduce drone delivery service to strategically expand its logistics platform.
It plans to introduce customized drones of different payloads including 0-5 kg, 5-10 kg and 10-25 kg. The company has decided to first target mid mile drone deliveries while preparing for last mile deliveries in future.
“SpiceJet continues to innovate and experiment with new technologies and we hope to introduce our drone delivery services soon. By inducting drones in the supply chain, SpiceJet’s logistics arm, SpiceXpress, will take a massive technological leap which will change the game for fast and cost-effective logistics in India,” said airline Chairman Ajay Singh.
The airline’s freight movement arm SpiceXpress will focus on delivering vaccines, life-saving drugs and essential goods among others to the remotest and farthest corners of the country which is otherwise difficult to reach by the traditional means of transportations.
“SpiceJet has partnered with Throttle Aerospace for more than 50 customized high-end drones while Aeologic will provide the drone software management,” the Gurgaon-based carrier said in a statement.
It has charted out plans to cover 10 districts with over 150 locations with an aim to achieve over 25,000 deliveries per month.
“SpiceJet will also set up dedicated drone ports at strategic locations across the country,” the company said.
SpiceXpress-led consortium had last year submitted a proposal to aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for conducting experimental Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations of remotely piloted aircraft.
Based on the recommendations of the BVLOS Experiment Assessment and Monitoring Committee, SpiceXpress was granted formal permission by the regulator for conducting experimental BVLOS drone trials in May 2020.
Throttle Aerospace has successfully completed 100 hours of testing based on the recommendations of the BVLOS Experiment Assessment and Monitoring Committee, stated the airline.
Opening up domestic skies for drones, the government in August this year notified the “liberalised” Drone Rules, 2021 repealing the “restrictive” Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), 2021 which had been brought earlier.
Use of drones has been on the rise with the unmanned aerial vehicle being flown for land mapping, photography, security surveillance and food delivery among others. Aviation experts believe that drones will change the future of mobility.
(UNI)
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