Wing Aviation and FedEx bring drones to Virginia

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Wing Aviation is collaborating with FedEx Express and Walgreens to offer drone delivery services in Christiansburg, Virginia from next month.

The pilot programme will demonstrate the benefits of drone delivery to enhance last-mile delivery services, improve access to healthcare products and create a new growth opportunity for local businesses.

FedEx customers who live within designated delivery zones in Christiansburg and op in to the service will be able to receive their packages via drone during the trial, subject to operating conditions being met.

Don Colleran, president and CEO of FedEx Express says: “FedEx is constantly innovating and testing solutions to meet growing customer needs, and we are excited to add this pilot to our portfolio of first in-kind innovation.”

Walgreens and Wing’s service will provide greater access to health and wellness, food, drink and convenience products by making over-the-counter medicines available to local residents for delivery on-demand through the air within minutes after they are ordered.

Vish Sankaran, chief innovation officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance says: “Through our partnership with Wing, Walgreens will be the first U.S. retailer to offer an on-demand commercial drone delivery option in the US, allowing us to explore another omni-channel offering for the delivery of products and services our customers want and need – wherever, whenever and however they may want them.”

As part of the trial, Wings is working with retailer Sugar Magnolia to make sweet and savoury treats, gifts, stationery and paper goods available for drone delivery.

James Ryan Burgess, CEO of Wing says: “Wing has spent the last seven years developing a delivery drone and navigation system for this purpose. By delivering small packages directly to homes through the air in minutes, and making a wide range of medicine, food and other products available to customers, we will demonstrate what we expect safer, faster, cleaner local delivery to look like in the future.”