Drones could fly deliveries from France to Alderney

A drone company is working with business leaders in the Channel Islands to explore the viability of drones for goods delivery on the island of Alderney.

Paris-based firm DragonFlyPads has been working with Alderney Chamber of Commerce to gather views on the idea, which could include "urgent deliveries" of items such as medical supplies.

The chamber said it had been approached by the company about using Alderney as a "platform" for deliveries, initially flying from Cherbourg.

Sissel Thorstensen, CEO of DragonFlyPads, said the project was in the "feasibility study stage" but businesses had shown "considerable interest".

Thorstensen said the company had developed software to make the delivers "autonomous".

She added: "It really enables the drone, the operator and the landing infrastructure as well as the traffic management - as well as even weather data - to all come together and communicate through one integrated system."

Meanwhile, the results of a survey canvassing islanders on "feasibility and potential demand for a small-package drone deliver service", were now being reviewed, the chamber said.

It said the goal was to explore whether "rapid, low-carbon aerial transit" could help local businesses overcome "transport bottlenecks" and speed emergency orders.

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