Melbourne, AUSTRALIA – Just like American company Zipline, Melbourne-based drone logistics company Swoop Aero cut their teeth in medical drone logistics on the African airspaces.

The Australian delivery drone services company shared its expertise with non-government organisations like VillageReach and government entities alike in the DRC, in Mozambique and in Malawi, to introduce sustained deliveries of medical supplies in the rural communities – a development that saw healthcare improving in these countries.

Now, after years criss-crossing the African skies, Swoop Aero is coming home.

The company has just announced that it has obtained BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line Of Sight) approval for medical logistics operations in Queensland, northeast Australia.

“Today is a proud milestone for Swoop Aero,” said CEO and co-founder Eric Peck. “The Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approvals will see Swoop Aero drones launch right here in Australian skies. Our approvals are a testimony to our strong regulatory experience overseas, our operational excellence flying over 10,000 BVLOS missions across a number of countries and our strong operating procedures.”

The approval from CASA allows Swoop Aero to operate in a fully integrated airspace with an aerodrome-based hub at the local airport in Goondiwindi. Rather than operating in controlled airspace, the integration will enable access to safe and sustainable drone logistics across the whole area.

Swoop Aero says the network will overcome distance as a barrier to healthcare access for surrounding regional communities and make access to health convenient.

The BVLOS approval is supported by a DG (Dangerous Goods) approval that allows the company to transport critical medical supplies to where they are needed whilst maintaining chain of custody.

“These operations will quickly connect Australian regional patients with medical supplies and equipment, including in emergency situations,” said Swoop Aero’s Australian Operations Manager, Daniel Scandar. “Right now the region is facing flooding, and participating recipients who would traditionally be isolated, have access to on demand critical supplies.

“We can also complete the circle of telehealth for rural patients by providing on-demand medical logistics via air. The potential for drone logistics to connect Australians in immense, and it’s incredible to be on the forefront of operations with Swoop Aero.”

Since its founding in 2017, Swoop Aero has worked with some of the largest organisations in global health, including UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, UKAID, USAID, VillageReach and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Besides their African operations, the company has also worked in Vanuatu and the United Kingdom.