Irish drone delivery company Manna Aero was the initial driver in Ireland to get the light UAS driver certification (LUC) from the Irish Aviation Authority IAA. This unlocks to start delivering meals, packages or medical goods through drones in various other EU countries also. In the Irish city of Galway, the firm has already run 100-150 flights a day in current months.

Manna Aero

dish distribution

was established in 2018 by Bobby Healy with the aim of making commercial meal delivery by drones a reality. To this end, the firm had its very own ‘air travel grade’ delivery drone created, which can deliver 2 kg of cargo in a distance of a few kilometers. In 2019, the firm raised 5 million euros in funding. In 2020, the company started a pilot project supplying meals to a campus south of Dublin. The company additionally sees opportunities in the field of normal parcel shipment. From the roof covering of a supermarket in Galway, 100-150 trips to customers in the location are already operated daily.

The firm was the initial Irish driver to obtain a light UAS driver certificate (LUC) from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). Thanks to the experience gained over the last few years and the collaboration with the IAA, the application was quickly honoured. LUC is a brand-new form of licensing for drone business that wish to come to be energetic in the supposed Specific group, for drone flights with a greater threat. A LUC enables operators to formulate threat analyses and afterwards analyze them themselves. In principle, the certificate is identified by all nations that are affiliated with EASA.

Important action

According to Diarmuid Ó Conghaile of the IAA, the award of LUC is an essential step for Manna Aero and the Irish drone community in general. “LUC is an exciting growth in the field of European drone laws. It offers Irish firms such as Manna Aero accessibility to a possible European market of over half a billion clients. Drone solutions are a vital part of Europe’s green technology mix and also offer an affordable choice to traditional service.”

Manna founder Healy is also pleased with the award of the LUC.”This achievement marks the culmination of our two-year collaboration with the IAA and also is a strong assistance for Manna, the emerging European drone delivery sector, and Ireland as a technical center for drone modern technology. We give thanks to EASA and also IAA for their vision and also management, our distribution companions and naturally our great test clients in Oranmore as well as Moneygall for assisting them get this far.”

More rollout

The award of the LUC does not suggest that Manna can easily reach work on supplying dishes by drone in all EU countries. The LUC certificate is acknowledged Europewide, nationwide aviation authorities regulate what is occurring in their own airspace. Extra requirements can be made on operators at national degree, specifically if they want to fly their drones out of the view of the pilot (BVLOS) and also above populated area.

According to Healy, people are usually favorable regarding shipment by drones. Still, there are a variety of variables that put a brake on drone distribution: sound, personal privacy issues, safety and security, as well as the fear that drones are triggering work losses. Healy additionally points out drone abuse generally as a threat to the sector. Healy believes that the advantages much exceed the negative aspects and that drone delivery is several times extra effective than conventional delivery approaches.