Chemotherapy drone deliveries trialled in southern England

The Stage 3 trials for the delivery of chemotherapy drugs via drone in the Isle of Wight were conducted between 5 May and 5 July 2022, and follow Stage 1 (26 August to 26 November 2021) and Stage 2 (31 January to 31 March 2022).

The pilot scheme, which is being conducted by NHS England in partnership with tech start-up Apian and developed in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), will transport chemotherapy drugs from the pharmacy of Portsmouth Queen Alexandra Hospital’s helipad, across the Solent, to Baker Barracks on Thorney Island, and St Mary’s Hospital helipad on the Isle of Wight.

Drones have permission to fly across the Solent between Monday and Thursday, between 14:00 hrs and 18:00 hrs, and between 10:30 hrs and 14:40 hrs on Fridays, and operate on a 47-km route at an altitude of around 850 feet, along a route designed to minimize the impact to stakeholders in the region.

The scheme is expected to reduce delivery times from up to four hours currently, to approximately 30 minutes, with one flight replacing two car journeys and one hovercraft or ferry journey per delivery.

At present, medical supply shipments are potentially vulnerable to travel disruptions, with chemotherapy drugs being particularly vulnerable due to their short shelf life – hence their delivery being the focus of the current trials. However Apian has stated that ‘other items may be delivered including pathology samples, blood packs, prescriptions and medical equipment’.

Apian added that ‘an on-demand drone delivery service will allow for a sequential process where manufacturing doesn’t start until after the patient’s assessment, enabling more flexibility for both the patients and clinicians’.

A similar project was conducted by NHS Scotland in Montrose as part of the country’s Mercury Drone Ports program in March, in partnership with Angus Council and DTLX. Another trial program is expected to be launched in Northumbria following the Isle of Wight scheme’s completion.

“Delivering chemo by drone is another extraordinary development for cancer patients and shows how the NHS will stop at nothing to ensure people get the treatment they need as promptly as possible - while also cutting costs and carbon emissions,” said Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England.

Swoop Aero completes Series B funding round

Elsewhere, Melbourne-based drone logistics company Swoop Aero has also raised A$16 million in its Series B funding round, with contributions led by venture capital firm Main Sequence.

The company, which specializes in the delivery of medical supplies and pathology samples by drone, will use the new funds to expand the scale of its drone delivery networks in Africa, southeast Asia, Europe and Oceania, as well as to expand its local manufacturing capabilities.

The company’s current target is to expand its operations to serve over one billion people by 2030.

Other investors included venture capital (VC) fund Giant Leap, the defence investment arm of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), In-Q-Tel, as well as returning investors Artesian and Folklore Ventures.

“We’re thrilled to have the support of such exceptional VC funds as we expand our integrated logistics networks across the globe and look to scale these networks to stack and deliver services that will transform how the world moves,” said Swoop Aero CEO Eric Peck. “Drone logistics is about more than delivery; it’s about establishing a new infrastructure layer for society; an infrastructure layer which leverages the skies for movement of goods and delivery of services in a way that hasn't been possible in the past.”

EASA proposes amendments to support drones, VTOL operations

The European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) has put forward a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) proposing the establishment of a ‘comprehensive regulatory framework’ for drones and other unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and for piloted aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities.

NPA 2022-06 proposes several amendments to existing European Union (EU) aviation regulations, as well as the creation of several new ones to address:

• The initial airworthiness of UAS subject to certification in accordance with Article 40 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945
• The continuing airworthiness of UAS subject to certification and operated in the ‘specific’ category
• The operational requirements applicable to manned VTOL-capable aircraft.

It is hoped that the proposed framework will improve the safety and consistency of rules for ‘new’ forms of air mobility such as UAS and VTOL aircraft within EU airspace, and create a legal environment which is more supportive of development of the new technologies.