Drones are going to supply Schiermonnikoog with medicines in the coming months. An agreement to this end was concluded at Groningen Airport Eelde last Thursday.
The drones will fly between Lauwersoog and Schiermonnikoog from the end of March 2018. NLR, TU Delft and DroneHub Eelde are each testing their own drone, which will perform flights at different altitudes.
Adjustment of regulations
The project was supposed to start earlier, but because the parties involved still have to put the rules and procedures in place, the trial will be delayed by several months. Flying with drones is currently only allowed within the driver's field of vision. Drones are also not integrated into the air traffic system.
Read also: Groningen Airport wants to experiment with delivery drones
'Continue to deliver care with drones'
The parties involved believe that drones can meet a social need from the Wadden Islands. "There is an ageing population that is causing the edges of the Northern Netherlands to depopulate. In addition, healthcare is retreating. With the help of drones, we can continue to provide care through, among other things, transport of medication and blood," Tjerk Hiddes of UMCG Ambulancezorg told Friesch Dagblad. "I think an ambulance drone for timely assistance in outlying areas will be an issue within five years."
