Successful BVLOS Drone Flight Between Residential Care Center and General Hospital: A Milestone for Medical Transport

Intro

In a groundbreaking test flight, a drone successfully completed a 4 km journey between Residential Care Center De Zon in Bellegem, managed by Zorg Kortrijk, and General Hospital Groeninge in Kortrijk. This flight, conducted beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the pilot, marks a significant milestone in the TETRA project ‘Medical Drone Supplies’ (MEDROS), led by VIVES University of Applied Sciences.

The MEDROS project aims not only to explore but also to implement the possibilities of drone technology for transporting medical goods within the Flemish healthcare sector as well as to integrate it into the entire healthcare logistics chain. This flight provided concrete evidence that the rapid and efficient exchange of medical samples is possible through drones. Additionally, project partner KU Leuven is conducting a comparison between the quality of blood samples transported by drone and those transported by road.

The drone flight partially took place within the geozone of Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport, where strict safety regulations apply to drone flights. This test is unique: it is the first time that a drone has flown beyond the pilot’s line of sight in this geozone without the need to interrupt other air traffic.

The safety of the operation was ensured by using SkeyDrone’s BVLOS framework, which is based on a range of advanced digital services, guaranteeing the safety of everyone in the air and on the ground. The flight was conducted by ADLC, a Belgian start-up experienced in the transport of petrochemical samples within the Port of Antwerp. The drone was operated fully automatically throughout the flight, with real-time remote monitoring from ADLC’s operations control room.

The flight was closely monitored by a team of experts, and the collected data will be analysed to formulate further recommendations.

About VIVES

VIVES University of Applied Sciences offers contemporary, competency-based higher education, innovative practice-oriented research, and community service, providing creative solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow. With 17,500 students and 1,500 staff members across the study areas of biotechnology, healthcare, business and management, technology, education, and social work, VIVES is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Flanders, with campuses in Bruges, Kortrijk, Ostend, Roeselare, and Torhout.

About AZ Groeninge

AZ Groeninge from Kortrijk has 1,000 beds and is one of the large Flemish hospitals. 3,200 employees, 250 doctors and 200 volunteers provide safe and high-quality care every day. In the annual ranking “Best hospitals of the world” by Newsweek, AZ Groeninge ranks 6th for Belgium. It is the first non-university hospital in the Belgian Top 20. AZ Groeninge was named Healthcare Employer of the Year in 2023.

About SkeyDrone

SkeyDrone is a joint venture between the Belgian Air Navigation Service Provider skeyes and Brussels Airport Company. The company’s mission is to provide end-to-end solutions for business needs related to the use of uncrewed aircraft (drones). SkeyDrone offers solutions for lower airspace monitoring, management of and protection against drones for authorities and geo-zone managers, UTM/U-space & consultancy services for drone operators and business integration services for companies. Playing a pivotal role in the implementation of U-space in Belgium, SkeyDrone is on track to make history by becoming one of the first U-space service providers in Europe.