There are a lot of rumors going around today that American drone company Wing (Google) is delivering blood in London using Apian’s API, which, besides the fact that the API is generally free, also talks to the NHS for logistics bookings. My opinion is that it would take a huge amount of time, effort and taxpayers’ money (a £2 million taxpayer-funded subsidy) to make all this happen.
With this in mind, I am sharing official Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) data from the past 10 years. This shows that there have been zero deaths caused by UAS (drones) in the UK. This stands in stark contrast to the manned aviation record. .
Unfortunately the DfT, CAA and Home Office are unable to provide the number of (non-bvlos) UAS operating regularly and safely each year with full clearance in London’s complex controlled airspace ‘because they do not hold this data’. The Met Police also confirmed that this had not been recorded in a central spreadsheet.
NAT, a privately held airspace controller (49% owned by DFT), will also not release figures.
Gatekeepers forget that capitalism thrives on innovation and growth and impede progress by clinging to outdated explanations for control (drones are unsafe, etc.).
Embracing new technologies with optimism is essential to success.
Let’s reshape the British bureaucracy to champion opportunity, adaptability and bold steps into the future.
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