Royal Mail launches UK’s first drone delivery service
It’s hoped the service will significantly improve delivery times on the Orkney islands, as the often challenging geography and weather can cause disruption and pose safety risks to postal workers.
The UK’s first drone delivery service has launched in Orkney.
The joint operation, by Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services, will initially operate on the islands for three months.
It will see letters and parcels transported from a delivery office in Kirkwall to Stromness, from where drones will take them to staff on Graemsay and Hoy to carry out their usual rounds.
The drones, a Speedbird Aero DLV-2 model, can carry payloads of up to 6kg.
It’s hoped it will significantly improve service levels and delivery times to the two islands, as the often challenging geography and weather can cause disruption and pose safety risks to postal workers.
Should it prove effective, the so-called Orkney I-Port operation could be continued on a permanent basis.
The project has been funded by the Department for Transport’s Freight Innovation Fund.
