Mail drone in use in the Orkney islands

[anonymous-user]

The BBC said:

Drones are being used to deliver post to a remote Orkney island.
A large, twin-engine drone is carrying mail between Kirkwall and North Ronaldsay.
Up to 100kg (220lbs) of post can be carried on the journey of about 35 miles (56km). Travelling at more than 90mph, the trip takes under 20 minutes.
The two-week trial is being carried out by Royal Mail to help better connect remote island communities and reduce carbon emissions.
Once the mail arrives at North Ronaldsay - a community of about 70 people - it is delivered in the usual way by a local postal worker.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-58792064

https://youtu.be/URrZCsRRa9w





Pretty cool I thought. Great that it can operate in reduced visibility but I suppose the wind limits might be less than an islander or whatever was delivering the mail before?

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 6th October 18:56

[Sheepshanks]

Think they did some trials to the Scilly Isles a few months ago.

There was also some talk of a smaller drone for inter-island use.

[anonymous-user]

Sheepshanks said:

Think they did some trials to the Scilly Isles a few months ago.

There was also some talk of a smaller drone for inter-island use.

I didn’t know that, I just looked back on the aircraft history on flight radar and you can see them back in May,

[s2kjock]

Mmmm.. 100kg

Quiet day bored out of your mind at the local depot when there are next to no parcels - that's got to be the ultimate office prank/dare surely?

Presumably it doesn't fly high enough for oxygen/temperature to be a concern (at least in the Summer).

[anonymous-user]

s2kjock said:

Mmmm.. 100kg

Quiet day bored out of your mind at the local depot when there are next to no parcels - that's got to be the ultimate office prank/dare surely?

Presumably it doesn't fly high enough for oxygen/temperature to be a concern (at least in the Summer).

Looks possible?

[Simpo Two]

Well that's one pilot unemployed who can now retrain as an HGV driver.

[tight fart]

Fabulous reporting from the BBC, did you know that unlike boats they are not effected by tides. FFS.

[lost in espace]

I wonder if they are hand flown to land, the video had a couple of people standing on the air strip when it took off. And how weather dependent is this method, I can imagine most days are really windy.

[normalbloke]

tight fart said:

Fabulous reporting from the BBC, did you know that unlike boats they are not effected by tides. FFS.

Is that how they spelt it?

[sherman]

lost in espace said:

I wonder if they are hand flown to land, the video had a couple of people standing on the air strip when it took off. And how weather dependent is this method, I can imagine most days are really windy.

Probably more crucial that it can land in the fog.
Wind can be accounted for.
No pilot. No need to see the runway.

[Teddy Lop]

sherman said:

Probably more crucial that it can land in the fog.
Wind can be accounted for.
No pilot. No need to see the runway.

Don't Hermes already have that market covered?

[valiant]

A Hermes drone would fly all the way out there simply to drop off a ‘we tried unsuccessfully to deliver’ card.

[DavePanda]

valiant said:

A Hermes drone would fly all the way out there simply to drop off a ‘we tried unsuccessfully to deliver’ card.

Or crash land in next doors hedge