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DDC agreement with Georgina Island First Nation for COVID-19 project

August 5, 2020  By Helicopters Staff


Drone Delivery Canada’s Sparrow Drone will be a key piece of the Georgina Island First Nation, with operations expected to begin in the third quarter of 2020. (Photo: CNW Group, Drone Delivery Canada)

Drone Delivery Canada Corp. entered into a six-month commercial agreement surrounding its delivery platform with the Georgina Island First Nation in Ontario. Dated July 30, 2020, the agreement was established with the assistance of Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) sales agent Air Canada and also the Pontiac Group.

Georgina Island First Nation (GIFN) will use DDC’s drone delivery platform to limit person-to-person contact on its island ferry service by transporting COVID-19-related cargo like personal protection equipment (PPE), hygiene kits, test kits, test swabs, among other goods.

Under the terms of the agreement, DDC will enable a defined two-way delivery flight route from/to GIFN mainland to/from Georgina Island. This delivery platform will utilize DDC’s Sparrow drone and its DroneSpot takeoff and landing zones, as well as additional drone flight infrastructure as required.

DDC notes all operations will be conducted in accordance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations and Transport Canada flight authorizations. Flights will be remotely monitored by DDC from its Operations Control Centre located in Vaughan, Ontario. DDC plans to begin deployment of site infrastructure shortly and expects to begin providing drone delivery services under the agreement in the third quarter of 2020.

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GIFN has been approved for funding from the Government of Canada, through Indigenous Services Canada, for this drone project for the delivery of medical supplies to, and samples from, the community via drone.

DDC notes Indigenous Services Canada is looking at this project as a pilot to provide a Proof of Concept for future consideration of the use of drone delivery as a way to limit person-to-person contact during the pandemic, while maintaining the provision of COVID-related medical supplies.

“We are pleased to announce Georgina Island First Nation as a drone logistics customer… This is yet another example showing our drone delivery solution is ideally suited for this type of application and we look forward to helping the community,” said Michael Zahra, president and CEO of DDC.

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