SkyDrop Granted Approval from Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand for Regular Drone Deliveries

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

SkyDrop (formerly Flirtey) has been granted Part 102 approval from New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to launch its first drone hub in Huntly, New Zealand. This positions SkyDrop as the first company in New Zealand to obtain approval for live store to door drone delivery, which also covers certain beyond visual line of sight operations.

SkyDrop creates aircraft, supporting software and launch platforms to provide customers around the globe with drone delivery solutions. The company’s delivery service provides faster and more affordable delivery for local communities, while also lowering traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions. With the new approval the company will be able to launch its first drone hub in Huntly, opening up access to a reliable stream of revenue through deliveries, benefitting SkyDrop as well as its customers.

The approval was granted by the CAA following a comprehensive review of SkyDrop’s technology and operating procedures, and after years of extensive testing conducted in both the United States and New Zealand. The process was aided by SkyDrop’s leading safety technology, featuring an onboard Parachute Recovery System reviewed by the CAA.

In addition to the CAA, SkyDrop has also received approvals from Waikato District Council after meeting with local stakeholders in Raahui Pookeka (Huntly) including the Waahi Paa, who named a SkyDrop drone Te Kaahu (The Hawk).

This sets the groundwork for SkyDrop to scale, as the risk assessment method leveraged in obtaining this approval can be applied to further locations to establish a network of drone hubs throughout New Zealand, and to Australia, Canada, and the European Union member countries utilizing the JARUS SORA method.

“SkyDrop is excited to work with the CAA to make New Zealand the innovation leader in speedier, cheaper, and greener last-mile drone delivery. This approval is a groundbreaking milestone for SkyDrop, and the drone delivery industry,” said SkyDrop Founder and CEO Matthew Sweeny. “SkyDrop is set to launch regular drone deliveries to the nearly 10,000 people and businesses in Huntly. Tell us: What will you deliver? And if you want to be the next business or town in New Zealand with drone delivery, reach out to us at SkyDrop!”

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Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.