Vaccine supply through Air! Govt allows usage of drones for delivery of Covid Vaccine

New Delhi, May 10: With the aim to provide the vaccine in various parts of the state, the center gave its nod to the Telangana govt to used drone service for vaccine delivery on an experimental basis. This will boost the vaccination drive when the country is battling with the second wave of covid-19.

 

On May 7, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation have granted a conditional exemption to the Telangana government for conducting experimental Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights for delivery of vaccines. The exemption has been granted from Unmanned Aircraft System {UAS) Rules, 2021.

 

 

 

This exemption shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of approval of the standard operating procedure (SOP) or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Last month, the Telangana government was granted a conditional exemption for conducting experimental delivery of Covid-19 vaccines within the Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) Range using drones.

 

To accelerate the drone deployment process to formulate application-based models, the grant has been extended to Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). The trials may commence by the end of May 2021. Moreover, the ministry in a statement said that the maximum permitted height for drone operations is 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL). The conditions further mention that Drone operations shall be limited between local sunrise and local sunset.

 

 

Apart from it, the state government also needs to establish a Single Point Coordinator (SPC) at Shamshabad ATC to ensure coordination with ATC during the flight trials. Earlier, the ministry had permitted the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct a feasibility study on using drones to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine.

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