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A330-300 passenger aircraft operations, companies expand air cargo accessibility
to freighters. According to the to countless more communities
original schedule, deliveries will such as Dronamics, worldwide, enabling same-day
commence in 2025. the world’s first cargo delivery for everyone, every-
drone airline with a where,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, San Diego-based license to operate in
C Cubed Aerospace began Dronamics’ flagship Black Swan
post-conversion ground tests Europe, sense a major aircraft will carry up to 350 kg
for its prototype A320-200CCF opportunity. (770 lb) at a distance of 2,500
in December last year and is km (1,550 mi). The aircraft is
moving toward the first flight of estimated to be up to 80% faster,
the freighter, which will be the In November last year, the 50% cheaper and with up to 60%
second A320 freighter type after company signed an inter- lower emissions than alternative
EFW’s A320P2F for which it line agreement with Qatar modes of transport, including
earned an STC last year. The Airways Cargo, the first such airfreight. The company, which
prototype’s first flight is expected deal between an international announced partnerships with
later this year. The company airline and a cargo drone air- Aramex, and the UAE’s Strategic
also plans to develop an A321 line. As part of the agreement, Development Fund as well at
freighter conversion. The nar- Dronamics will offer cargo the Dubai Air Show last year, is
rowbody freighter market is services from any of its dro- expected to begin commercial
dominated by the 737-800F, but neports, initially in Greece, to operations in Greece this year.
the expected entry of the two the Qatar Airways Cargo net-
A320 freighter types will provide work - including destinations
more options for the industry. such as Singapore, China, and In September last year, UPS
the United States (JFK). Qatar received a waiver to conduct
Airways Cargo can access with beyond visual line of sight
Drones Fly High remote locations that Dronamics (BVLOS) operations using the
serves, such as the Greek Matternet M2 drone. The follow-
According to analysts, islands, on the Dronamics cargo ing month, Amazon announced
that the new MK30 drone would
drone network.
another trend to keep deliver to customers in three
an eye on this year The agreement has Svilen U.S. locations as well as cities
is the use of cargo Rangelov, Co-Founder and CEO in Italy and the UK by the end
of 2024. The MK30, which will
drones for last-mile of Dronamics, excited. “While replace previous Prime Air
currently less than 1% of global
and middle-mile deliv- trade moves by air, the vast drone models, can fly twice as
eries. With companies global reach of Qatar Airways far as previous drones, is qui-
eter and can fly even in light
like UPS and Amazon Cargo and their world-leading rain, and other diverse weather
capacity and service give us the
expanding drone perfect platform to massively conditions.•
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