Laboratory receives airborne blood sample
In the heart of southwest Germany, the city of Albstadt and its neighbouring town Balingen have been witnessing a unique revolution in healthcare logistics. The Labfly drone, developed by Berlin-based startup DI-AV-EN, has been in operation since last year, transporting essential blood samples between the two towns.
The drone project in the Zollernalbkreis is not a solitary endeavour in the Southwest. It marks the region's continued exploration of drone technology in healthcare. In 2021, the regional hospital association RKH Gesundheit, along with the Helios group and drone manufacturer German Copters, began preparations for drone operations. However, it seems that the projects at Helios and RKH Gesundheit are currently on hold.
The drone service, operated by logistics service provider Di-Av-EN, promises a significant reduction in costs and time. The hospital expects annual costs of 75,000 euros for the drone service, a stark contrast to the previous annual costs of between 180,000 and 200,000 euros for transporting laboratory samples by car. The cargo reaches its destination in just twelve minutes using the drone service.
The transportation of laboratory samples from Albstadt to Balingen falls into a particularly high air traffic risk category due to the drones flying over inhabited areas and the cargo being legally considered hazardous goods. For class III and higher, the Federal Aviation Office must examine applications. The engineers from Berlin have received the first German approval from the Federal Aviation Office to transport cargo with automatically flying drones outside the visual range of the remote pilot over inhabited areas.
It had to be proven in the approval process that the cargo would survive an emergency landing without damage. The hospitals received approval from the Stuttgart Regional Council for two routes in 2021. For less hazardous deployment areas, the Stuttgart Regional Council issues operating permits for transport drones. The Stuttgart Regional Council is responsible for all questions of aviation and aviation safety throughout the state.
However, it's important to note that there is no publicly disclosed, specific information about drone transportation for healthcare currently active or planned beyond the Albstadt-Balingen route in the Zollernalbkreis or Southwest Germany. Further specialized local or industry sources would be needed to provide up-to-date insights on this topic.
The Labfly drone project in the Zollernalbkreis is a promising step towards a more efficient and cost-effective healthcare system. As the technology continues to develop and regulations evolve, we may see more drone-based healthcare solutions emerging in the region.
The regional hospital association RKH Gesundheit, along with the Helios group and drone manufacturer German Copters, are also exploring the use of drone technology in healthcare, echoing the trend in the Southwest. municipalities are increasingly embracing technology to streamline healthcare logistics.
