North Carolina has applied for a federal program to test how drones could be used for various purposes. In this case, that purpose would be delivering supplies like blood to hospitals and clinic around the state.
According to the Raleigh News & Observer, the proposal would involve private drone delivery companies setting up distribution centers to make medical deliveries, which the state’s director of aviation, Bobby Walston, said could “allow doctors and hospitals to save more lives.”
The state’s proposal is one of about 210 applications to the Drone Integration Pilot Program at the Federal Aviation Administration. About 10 applications will be chosen, though the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) couldn’t say how soon deliveries would begin if the state wins federal funding.
“We don’t exactly know when you’ll see these drones flying around here, but the technology that we’re trying to do already exists,” said NCDOT spokesman James Perace. “They’re doing it in Europe. They’re doing it in Africa.”
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John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.