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First scheduled drone flight in Ireland takes to the air

FedEx Express and Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FCMI) Air have completed their first scheduled last-mile delivery flight in Ireland using a drone.

The trial service delivered goods from FCMI, based at Shannon Airport in County Clare to Foynes Port in County Limerick.

The drone deliveries were conducted by Skyports on behalf of the FMCI Air consortium, which also includes Avtrain, Shannon Group and FCMI.

Flights take under 13 minutes and are part of a month-long trial where a number of flights will operate between Shannon Airport and Foynes Port.

Julie Garland on behalf of the FMCI Air Consortium says: “The location of this trial from the FMCI base adjacent to Shannon Airport, in controlled airspace, with full air traffic control services demonstrates the integration of manned aircraft operations with simultaneous vertiport drone operations becoming the norm and paving the way for Advanced Air Mobility.”