Unifly, a provider of UTM technology and part of the Terra Drone Group, has teamed up with Skyports Drone Services for a groundbreaking drone trial in Belgium. The project is one of the first real-life demonstrations in Europe where drones fly across borders to deliver emergency medical supplies safely and legally.
Drones Speed Up Medical Deliveries
Starting on August 1, drones began flying medical supplies between two hospital campuses of AZ Turnhout in northern Belgium’s Kempen region. These flights, operated from the United Kingdom, carry urgent medical items, such as lab samples and important medicines between the two locations.
This semi-rural area of Belgium has multiple challenges for healthcare providers, with hospitals located far apart and road transport often slow or difficult. Using drones massively speeds up delivery, cutting transport times from 30 minutes to less than 13. That means patients can get critical care more quickly and doctors can better coordinate treatments, potentially even for time-sensitive therapies like chemotherapy.
Unifly’s UTM solution underpins the project, ensuring flights are planned, approved, and monitored in real time. That way, the drones can safely share the airspace with other aircraft, following all European Union regulations. The system is managed in Belgium by SkeyDrone, a leading airspace service provider.
European Teamwork and New Rules
This project is part of the BURDI (Belgium/Netherlands U-space Reference Design Implementation) initiative, which is funded by the European Union and SESAR Joint Undertaking fund. BURDI’s goal is to test how drones can operate safely with traditional aviation across borders, using shared digital systems. Unifly’s system includes features like automated flight authorizations, live tracking of drones, and automatic alerts if a drone goes off-piste. It also clearly communicates changing regulations between the two airspaces to the pilot, ensuring compliance.
A Glimpse of the Future in Healthcare
The medical drone flights are led by Skyports Drone Services, with support from hospitals, technology partners, and the BURDI project. Andres Van Swalm, CEO of Unifly, said, “By safely connecting hospitals through the air, we’re opening the door to faster, more responsive healthcare.”
This trial shows that using drones for medical deliveries isn’t just an idea for the future—it’s happening now, making critical healthcare more efficient and accessible.
More information on Unifly’s UTM solution is available here.
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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.
