The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said it is starting trial flights using small uncrewed aircraft to carry light cargo between lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Marine Terminal.
In partnership with Skyports Drone Service, the yearlong trial will begin on April 27. The flights are scheduled to operate weekdays on a fixed route over water and away from residential buildings. The flights will also be supervised by a certified drone pilot with the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The yearlong trial will be the latest in the Port Authority’s work to assess the viability of drone cargo routes that may one day be used to deliver goods for public benefit around the region as a means of removing vehicles from congested roads, supporting low-carbon delivery methods and seeking alternatives to traditional middle-mile delivery of goods. It follows a shorter two-week proof-of-concept test that was conducted in January by Skyports, in partnership with the Port Authority and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), using the same route, schedule and small uncrewed aircraft.
“The Port Authority has put small uncrewed aircraft to use for public service for many years already, from helping in demolition and construction of mega-structures around the region to the maintenance of our marine facilities from the water line up to the tallest heights of our bridges’ cables and towers,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. said “More than 75 years ago, the Port Authority revolutionized how the entire world moves goods for commerce with the invention of containerized shipping at Port Newark. Now we are laying the groundwork for the next generation of cargo delivery in this region.”
During the trial, a Skyports Drone will make multiple round-trip flights from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays across the East River between the Downtown Skyport and the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. The trial will fly nonhazardous, non-sensitive, non-biological cargo, with the goal of assessing the impact and integration of drone deliveries such as pharmaceuticals for a non-profit health system, with the goal of assessing the impact and integration of drone deliveries for medical cargo on improving patient outcomes.
“Around the world, drones have proven themselves an effective tool for getting critical cargo from A to B, providing a quicker and cleaner alternative to regular road transport,” Skyports CEO Alex Brown said. “Whether it’s traversing heavy traffic or tough terrain, drones have real potential to improve middle-mile logistics. We look forward to demonstrating their potential in New York over the next 12 months, helping to take vehicles off the road and improve the level of care provided to medical patients.”