UPS establishes Flight Forward subsidiary for drone parcel delivery

Shipping company UPS has established a subsidiary and filed an application with the US Federal Aviation Administration to operate commercial drone flights. The company already delivers with drones, but that is now only allowed in specific cases.

UPS has applied for Part 135 certification, which the company says lays the foundation for performing routine drone flights. This concerns flights both during the day and at night over populated areas and without a driver having the drone in sight. According to UPS, such flights are very limited in the US and are only approved in exceptional cases. If UPS Flight Forward obtains the requested certification, the company is considered a certified air carrier.

Under the FAA Part 107 regulation, UPS is currently allowed to ship packages using drones. This concerns specific cases for which permission has been given. UPS began drone shipments for medical products in March, which were approved under these terms. This concerns shipments of medical samples to a hospital and a number of facilities.