Edmonton International Airport has expanded its drone operations to advance delivery systems

Credit: Edmonton International Airport

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) has launched the second phase of its commercial drone project, in partnership with Drone Delivery Canada (DDC), Apple Express, Braden Burry Expediting (BBE), Montana First Nation, the City of Leduc and Leduc County. YEG’s Canary drone will now have its route expanded to encompass the City of Leduc, having its previous flight path to Leduc County since December 2021. This new flight path will increase innovative and sustainable first- and final-mile delivery of high-value, time-critical products, and become the first drone program in Canada to intersect with the runway glide path safely.

“As we continue to build demand for drone delivery, we are focused on advancing sustainable mobility solutions to first- and final-mile delivery across the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. Part of our net zero commitment is creating opportunities for sustainable transportation and aviation, and we look forward to collaborating with our partners to accelerate the adoption of drone delivery to and from Edmonton International Airport and across the region,” said Myron Keehn, President & CEO, YEG.

How will the drone operate and what benefits will it bring?

The Canary will fly 10.15 km from YEG to the Akamihk Medical Clinic along rail lines. E-commerce drones bring convenience and opportunity to all communities, including remote communities that may not have access to certain goods without the use of drones. This project is helping to open doors for efficient and sustainable commercialised drone delivery.

The goal of expanding the route and partners means YEG will continue to move forward toward bringing drones closer to a sustainable commercialised mode of transport. The future goal is to deliver final-mile packages for e-commerce businesses, removing vehicles from the road, reducing congestion and helping to control air pollution and emissions.

Check out more info from this video:

“We are deeply honoured to contribute to the next phase of this pioneering initiative. This landmark achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to safety and our extensive experience in 2 the field. We take immense pride in collaborating with our partners as we continue to explore and expand the horizons of drone cargo delivery.” Said Glen Lynch, CEO, Volatus Aerospace, which recently merged with DDC