Aviation Services Charity Airlines has joined forces with Frontières and Windracers, UK-based designers, manufacturers, manufacturers and operators of automatic lift cargo drones, to deploy a dual drone system designed to overcome the logistical challenges of delivering medical supplies to isolated communities.
This joint initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize humanitarian logistics by providing medical supplies wherever they need it most. The project combines Frontières' operational expertise in humanitarian aviation with Windracers' rugged aircraft technology, an integrated, proprietary autopilot system and mission control software.
“This project represents a potential turning point in humanitarian logistics in Africa. By combining our operational experience with cutting-edge drone technology, we are developing solutions that are innovative and based on field reality.
At the heart of the project is Windracers Ultra Mk2. This is a long distance self-flight cargo aircraft with a weight that can transport useful loads up to 150kg over a range of up to 1,000km. The Windracers platform is dual use, multi-mission, and offers an optional 3-door drop bay floor for safe and accurate parachute when needed. Over the coming weeks, and thanks to cold chain innovations, it will undergo trials focused on providing remote vaccines and other temperature-sensitive medical supplies.
“Logistics is the backbone of humanitarian assistance, and in many cases can represent 60-80% of the cost depending on the sector of activity.” “We have developed Ultra with this exact idea in mind. We have already implemented this in Malawi, which has established a dedicated operating foundation to support humanitarian and development missions to provide a low-cost means of providing humanitarian aid where it is out of reach for the most useful people.
“This contract with Aviation Sans Frontières is based on that experience and we are extremely proud that the Windracers team will have the opportunity to work with Aviation Sans Frontières to make this mission a reality.”
By integrating local training, regulatory compliance and environmental sustainability, Aviation aims to become the Frontières-Windracers partnership. This innovation provides a pathway to providing more efficient, greener and more equitable aid, the partner said.
