Transport Canada has selected Drone Delivery Canada to participate in the department’s Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight Pilot Project (the “Pilot Project”). The Pilot Project will advance its Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (“BVLOS”) capabilities in Canada and will further DDC’s capabilities in the Moosonee and Moose Cree First Nation communities in Northern Ontario, Canada commencing in the summer of 2018.
The Pilot Project will utilize DDC’s drone delivery platform which includes its FLYTE management system, DroneSpot technology and its Sparrow X1000 delivery drone, which was deemed compliant by Transport Canada in late 2017. DDC’s BVLOS Project looks to bring an innovative new set of delivery services to meet the needs of remote Northern communities. DDC’s Pilot Project will take place in the Town of Moosonee and the Moose Cree First Nation in Northern Ontario with unmanned aircraft deliveries that will include letters, packages and medical deliveries from a large group of DDC’s existing customer base including DDC’s recently announced partnership with Toyota Tsusho Canada Inc. on May 28, 2018.
“We are quickly advancing our technology out of the lab and into the skies. This begins with DDC providing a logistical solution for remote communities where infrastructure is limited or non-existent” commented Tony Di Benedetto, CEO. “The opportunity to help drive social and economic betterment to these communities by deploying our drone deliver platform is evident and with approximately 1000 of these communities across Canada’s north. We see this region as a great opportunity for us.”
Drone Delivery Canada will work alongside Transport Canada, The National Research Council and various technology and commercial partners including Toyota Tsusho Canada Inc. to deploy and operate this next generation drone delivery platform under this Transport Canada defined Project.
Mark Wuennenberg, VP Regulatory Affairs of Drone Delivery Canada said: “This pilot program will allow us to provide Transport Canada with the critical information needed to facilitate the safe, reliable and routine conduct of future BVLOS commercial operations.”