“Logistics drone” flies to Japan’s first regular air port “ANA mark drone” achieved at Wakkanai Airport What is the purpose?

Building a New Logistics Network

"Logistics Drone" Demonstration Experiment at Wakkanai Airport (Image: ANA Holdings).

On November 4, 2021 (Thursday), ANA Holdings, an affiliate of ANA (All Nippon Airways), announced that it had completed Japan's first demonstration experiment at Wakkanai Airport. This is to fly and take off and land at airports where regular air flights are in service. Details such as the ``ANA-branded drone'' that reigns over the northern land, etc. This demonstration experiment was realized with the cooperation of Hokkaido Airport, which manages Wakkanai Airport. Logistics drones took off and landed and flew inside and outside Wakkanai Airport. The purpose is "verification of connection between drone logistics and air logistics". Through these connections, "rapid and consistent transportation from rural areas to urban areas will become possible, and in the future, the construction of a new hub-and-spoke logistics network centered on airports and industrial development in rural areas will become possible." It is expected" (ANA Holdings). According to ANA Holdings drone project director Mitsuhisa Nobuta, "until now, it was difficult for drones to enter airports." I want to take the first step to make use of it," he commented. On the other hand, he also says, "If we were to operate a drone on a manned aircraft, it would be a problem to adjust the relationship with general air traffic control."　ANA Holdings will be in charge of selecting the times when passenger flights will not be in service, as well as ensuring the means of communication in the event of an emergency. Operation management uses a system called UTM (UAS Traffic Management), which enables multiple drone operators to operate drones safely and efficiently in the same airspace. This system is also the first to be adopted in Japan. At the same time, in the Wakkanai region, Japan's first drone drug delivery experiment based on the "Guidelines for drug delivery by drone" formulated by the Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in June this year was also conducted. ANA Holdings is in charge of this delivery.

Riding news editorial department