The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has awarded the country’s first licence for urban drone deliveries to Chinese tech company Antwork Technology.
The approval, presented to Antwork on 15 October, encompasses urban operations, as well as delivery business licences.
Prior to receiving CAAC approval, Antwork has carried out more than 20,000 test flights in Hangzhou city, as well as other parts of China. Since test flights commenced three years ago it has clocked up more than 60,000km, the company states.
Antwork
For a start, Antwork will focus on transporting first-aid supplies, as well as instant delivery services in Hangzhou.
Antwork chief Zhang Lei says that the company hopes to operate about 1,000 commercial drone deliveries a day in Hangzhou. “For the next three to five years, Antwork aims to build an inner-city air delivery network for over 100 big cities worldwide, providing fast and reliable aviation service for business clients and consumers,” Zhang adds.
The CAAC, in awarding the licence, says it hopes Antwork’s operational experiences will help shape future developments in China’s drone industry.
