Drone Express, a leader in autonomous drone delivery services, has announced its partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Drone Express is a partner in the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s BEYOND program, one of eight programs in the country selected by the Federal Aviation Administration to pave the way for routine commercial and government drone use in the National Airspace System. North Carolina partners have achieved more national firsts and flown more missions by far than all other teams combined since the FAA launched its integration initiative in 2017.
“We are thrilled to extend our involvement in the BEYOND program to North Carolina as we expand our presence there,” stated Beth Flippo, CEO of Drone Express. “Partnering with NCDOT is a significant step forward in the advancement of local drone delivery services, and we are honored to be a part of it.”
Drone Express has proudly participated in the BEYOND Program since 2020, alongside esteemed partners such as Zipline, Flytrex, Wing, Causey Aviation and Amazon. Leveraging Drone Express’s advanced technology and aerial logistics expertise and NCDOT’s commitment to innovation and safety, the program will venture into uncharted territories in unmanned aerial delivery operations. This collaboration will provide valuable insights into the societal, economic, and community benefits of drone delivery, while also streamlining approval processes for safe UAS integration. This partnership indicates a significant moment in pushing forward drone delivery technology by broadening future capacities of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
As part of the BEYOND program, Drone Express and NCDOT will collaborate on a series of initiatives aimed at testing and deploying drone delivery solutions in various settings, including urban, suburban, and rural environments.
The program seeks to resolve challenges of drone integration with:
- Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations that are repeatable, scalable, and economically viable with specific emphasis on infrastructure inspection, public operations, and small package delivery.
- Industry operations that better analyze and quantify the societal and economic benefits of UAS operation.
- Community engagement that collects, analyzes, and addresses community concerns.
“We will work closely with NCDOT and other partners to drive innovation and shape the future of drone delivery through the BEYOND program,” added Russell Kline, Chief Regulatory Officer at Drone Express.
“From a regulatory perspective, this collaboration presents an exciting opportunity to advance the integration of drones into the national airspace and establish best practices for safe and efficient operations.”
Drone Express and NCDOT invite stakeholders, industry partners, and the public to join them in shaping the future of drone delivery through the BEYOND program.
