Overview
- The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt granted approval for aerial package drops over populated areas, clearing the way for pharmacy-led trials in Dessau.
- Labfly’s Palli drone, built with 3D-printed components, carries about 1 kilogram, flies roughly 25 kilometers at around 70 km/h near 100 meters altitude, and releases cargo by opening its hull while hovering.
- Operations are restricted to institutions such as nursing homes and hospices because trained staff must be present at both ends, with home deliveries contingent on further approvals and process changes.
- The trial workflow uses e-prescriptions at a Dessau pharmacy, rooftop launches in special cartons, and remote oversight by a Berlin-based pilot on automated routes.
- Labfly reports about 20 prior airborne deliveries to patients in Dessau, and the project includes a scientific evaluation to assess benefits and address off-hour supply bottlenecks in rural areas.