FRANCE: SUCCESSFUL FIRST TESTS FOR AIRBUS NEW DELIVERY BY DRONES

A multi UAVs combined flight tracked by a fleet management station was successfully tested at the E-Valley Park, on the site of the former Cambrai airbase in northern France as part of the test campaign phase to assess economic development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – UAVs air deliveries respecting a given route.

A fixed-wing Survey Copter DVF200ER thermal propulsion high endurance versatile system, and a Drone Volt VTOL – Vertical Take Off and Landing electric mini UAV specifically equipped with Airbus avionics, both successfully demonstrated via the simulation of a delivery mission, the feasibility of such logistic flights.

 “We are extremely pleased with the results of this very innovative cooperation with this northern Province of France and the French and European aviation authorities, opening new doors to a promising cargo UAVs business – said at Spazio-News Magazine Nicolas Askamp, Head of Airbus drones subsidiary Survey Copter -. It is actually a whole new reflection on drone flights, over semi-urban and surrounding countryside environments and into the principles of fleet management over these particular territories”.

Airbus and the Hauts-de-France Region via its innovation and development agency (Hauts-de-France Innovation Développement – HDFID) joined forces in June this year under a framework agreement to assess the economic development potential of the autonomous air mobility on a regional scale.

Three different phases mark the project study. The first one, the study phase, including needs, commercial and regulatory aspects, occurred between June and July this past summer. The current phase is a three months test campaign, which will be followed by a phase of synthesis and projection for potential later development, including a demonstrator. This study is carried out in coordination and with the support of the Directorate General for Civil Aviation – DGAC.

France’s regulatory framework is particularly favourable to this kind of study as they enhance standard scenarios which are subsequently submitted to European Authority for aviation safety – EASA to consolidate UE regulations on drone transport.