Wing brings drone delivery to Ireland
Wing is encouraged by what is emerging and is now eager to investigate how they may use these new rules to extend this service to other European areas.
Wing will conduct a small-scale demonstration of a drone delivery operation in Lusk, an Irish village in Fingal, County Dublin, 20 kilometers north of Dublin. Wing's strong relationships and approvals in Finland will be used for these activities. The approvals are recognized by the Irish Aviation Authority and can be recognized across the EASA Member States.
The European Union has recently made significant progress in developing standards for unmanned aviation, laying the groundwork for safe and scalable drone deliveries. Wing is encouraged by what is emerging and is now eager to investigate how they may use these new rules to extend this service to other European areas.
The purpose of this initiative is to expand European operations into Ireland, gather operational experience, and begin the process of learning from the local community about the sorts of drone delivery services that would be most beneficial to them.
"This is a first small step for Wing in Ireland, and will look different from the commercial services we now operate in Finland, Australia and the United States. We're excited for the opportunity to demonstrate our technology and get feedback from the community," said Margaret Nagle, Head of Policy, Regulatory and Community Affairs, Wing in an official press release.
Wing chose Ireland because of the Irish Aviation Authority's backing and experience, as well as the warm welcome provided to new and innovative technology by Irish communities. Lusk is a rising neighborhood with a strong sense of community. Working in such a dynamic atmosphere will allow Wing to hear from a diverse spectrum of individuals, allowing them to learn from local residents and grow and expand over time.
"We've already had preliminary discussions with local leaders, but we look forward to much deeper consultation over the coming days. We will be hosting a public community meeting at Lusk Community Cultural Centre on Thursday, Oct 27 from 4-8pm. We invite anyone who would like to learn more to stop by, ask questions and get a chance to see our drones up close before they're flying. This will be the first of many outreach events leading up to our service launch in Lusk," said Nagle.Wing reached another milestone earlier this month when it completed its 300,000th delivery. We think that as this technology spreads to new places, drone delivery will enhance the way cities and towns run by decreasing traffic congestion and offering new economic possibilities for local companies.
"Our electric drones replace fossil fuel-intensive car trips, reducing local and global pollution. This is an additive service that can be incorporated into existing supply chains, giving residents quicker, more efficient access to small deliveries," said Nagle.
