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Novant to use drones to deliver PPE, medical supplies to area hospitals

Novant Health Drone Delivery May 22, 2020: FlyZipLine delivery at Novant Health Medical Center in Huntersville, NC. (HHP/Harold Hinson) (HAROLD HINSON/HHP/HAROLD HINSON)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Federal Aviation Administration has given Novant Hospital approval to use drones to deliver PPE and medical supplies related to the pandemic.

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The hospital is teaming up with a company called Zipline, which operates the drones.

Novant said the FAA granted the waiver, which is the first in the United States.

Novant has a logistics center in Kannapolis, which will launch the drones to area hospitals. Right now, there are two routes that are about 20 to 30 miles route trip to Novant Huntersville.

The drones, which can carry up to 4-pounds, drop the delivery by parachute at a designated spot then return to Kannapolis, all without landing or without contact.

Novant hopes to expand those two routes in the future.

Over the next two years, the hospital hopes to get the FAA’s approval to even deliver to homes across the state.


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