Toronto-based drone technology company, Drone Delivery Canada, has recently received approval from the Canadian Aviation Authorities for the implementation of dangerous good transportation. The company is being allowed to transport dangerous goods for the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine’s ‘Remote Communities Drone Transport Initiative’ (DTI).
Gaining the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) certification allows the drone company to transport any type of goods, including medication and lab specimens classified as dangerous goods.
Drone Transport Initiative (DTI) is currently utilizing the company’s drone logistics solution to enable a defined two-way delivery flight route, using the Sparrow drone and its DroneSpot takeoff and landing zones, to transport a variety of cargo for the benefit of the Stellat’en First Nation and the Village of Fraser Lake, located in Central Northern British Columbia, Canada.
All operations will be conducted in accordance with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (“TDG”) Directorate approvals, the Canadian Aviation Regulations, and Transport Canada special flight operations certificates.
With a maximum range of 20 km (12.5 miles) and a payload capacity of 4 kg, DDC’s Sparrow is the largest, most powerful aircraft in the company’s fleet. The rotorcraft has eight electric motors, can fly at a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph), and has a maximum takeoff weight of 25 kg.
The company’s heavy-lift Condor helicopter offers a range of 200 km (124 miles) and can carry a payload of up to 180 kg at a speed of 120 km/h (74.5 mph).
“This is another significant achievement by the organization to be the only Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (“RPAS”) operator that has been issued a TDG Certificate. We’re very happy to further support our customer, UBC, with the flexibility of transporting dangerous goods via our drone solutions. This makes DDC the only RPAS operator in Canada to conduct beyond visual line of sight and dangerous goods operations simultaneously,” says Steve Magirias, CEO of DDC.
