Helsinki is launching a week-long drone transport pilot in November, testing regular deliveries of healthcare supplies across a seven-kilometer urban route. The pilot aims to explore how unmanned aircraft could support both routine medical deliveries and crisis response scenarios.
Pilot Overview
The flights are scheduled between October 29 and November 7, 2025, with operations several times daily on weekdays during office hours. The route stretches from Kyläsaari—about four kilometers from Helsinki’s city center—to the Laajasalo healthcare station. The EU-funded CITYAM project coordinates the initiative.
“Helsinki hasn’t piloted this longer distance, regular drone transportation with goods before. There is a lot of potential for the future and I am excited to see how these tests will go. There were already many lessons learned from the long and sometimes challenging process to get these flights happening,” says Senior Project Manager Renske Martijnse-Hartikka from Forum Virium Helsinki.
Healthcare Delivery and Operations
The Helsinki drone transport operation will carry everyday medical supplies including masks, gloves, and disinfectant. “Drones are a new form of transport with a lot of potential. In congested and fully-built cities, making deliveries by air can streamline shipments and improve the city’s operational efficiency. This drone experiment, which is now beginning, is truly interesting and will offer us many lessons,” states Sami Aherva, Logistics Unit Director at Stara.
The aircraft features a 2.6-meter wingspan and carries a maximum payload of three kilograms at altitudes between 60 and 100 meters. Operations occur beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) with continuous human operator supervision and authorization from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom).
“This is an interesting experiment for us because we gain concrete experience with a new delivery method for goods logistics that will be significant in the future, as well as its requirements. The experiment also gives us guidelines for developing goods logistics and for how we can take into account possible disruption and exceptional situations in logistics,” explains Ari Lallo, Acting Head of Transport and Logistics for the Social, Health, and Rescue Services Sector.
Norwegian company Aviant operates the flights from Oslo, with ground staff in Helsinki coordinating launch operations. The City of Helsinki’s Construction Services (Stara), Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division, and Forum Virium Helsinki collaborate on the project.
Ian McNabb is a journalist focusing on drone technology and lifestyle content at Dronelife. He is based between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys hiking and Boston area sports.
