UPS subsidiary UPS Flight Forward Inc. has received the first full Part 135 standard certification from the U.S. government to operate a drone airline. © UPS

UPS subsidiary UPS Flight Forward Inc. has received the first full Part 135 standard certification from the U.S. government to operate a drone airline. The company will initially continue to expand its drone delivery service to support hospitals and campus environments across the country and provide solutions for customers outside of the healthcare industry. In the future, UPS Flight Forward plans to transport a variety of items for customers in diverse industries and regularly fly drones beyond the pilot's line of sight.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted UPS Flight Forward a Part 135 standard certification on Friday. The UPS subsidiary immediately launched the first-ever drone delivery flight by a Part 135-compliant company at the WakeMed hospital campus in Raleigh, N.C. This flight, using a Matternet M2 quadcopter, took place under a federal exemption that allows "beyond visual line of sight" (BVLOS) operations - also a first in the U.S. for a regular, revenue-generating delivery.

UPS has proven the demand of drone delivery in healthcare, where the shortest transportation time can improve efficiency and help medical professionals better care for their patients. Earlier this year, UPS partnered with drone manufacturer Matternet to launch its healthcare service on the WakeMed campus. This first revenue-generating service demonstrated the business case for drone delivery of medical products and specimens. With Part 135 certification, UPS is ready to build on this application and expand to a variety of critical care and life-saving applications.

"We're making history right now, and we're not done yet," says David Abney, UPS Chief Executive Officer. "Our technology is opening doors for UPS and solving problems in unique ways for our customers. We will soon be announcing further steps to expand our infrastructure, extend services to healthcare customers and utilize drones in new ways in the future."

The FAA's Part 135 Standard certification has no restrictions on the size and scope of flight operations. It is the highest level of certification that no other company has received to date. UPS Flight Forward's certificate allows the company to fly an unlimited number of drones, with an unlimited number of drone pilots in command. This allows UPS to adapt its operations to customer demand. The certification also allows the drone and cargo to exceed 55 pounds (approximately 25kg) and fly at night - previously there were restrictions on UPS flights.

"UPS Flight Forward benefits from our knowledge as one of the world's leading airlines. The UPS subsidiary is building a comprehensive drone operation based on the FAA's stringent reliability, safety and control requirements," says Abney.

"This is a major step forward in safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems into our airspace, expanding access to healthcare in North Carolina, and continuing the successful national Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration Pilot Program to maintain U.S. leadership in unmanned aviation," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

UPS has established itself as a leader in unmanned aircraft delivery, having tested drones for time-sensitive commercial deliveries over water, funded and supported humanitarian deliveries in Africa, and tested non-time-sensitive commercial deliveries in rural areas using drones launched from a UPS delivery vehicle.

UPS has also made contributions to government agencies responsible for setting rules for safe drone operations in the United States. A senior UPS executive has served as an advisor on the FAA's Drone Advisory Council since 2017.