Upstate’s Air Upstate drone team conduct first BVLOS flight

SYRACUSE — In May, Upstate Medical University says it completed a key test flight for its drone program that advances the health system’s goal of transporting time-sensitive materials, drugs, and lab samples by drone throughout the region.

Air Upstate — Upstate Medical’s drone program — flew its first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight from the pilot at the New York uncrewed aerial system (UAS) test site at the Griffiss International Airport in Rome to New York’s Homeland Security Training Center in Oriskany on May 22.

The 18.6-mile round-trip flight took 18 minutes and 20 seconds, Upstate said in its June 26 announcement. The Rome facility is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-designated UAS test site.

The flight was supported by AX Enterprize; Oneida County UAS test site; Causey Aviation Unmanned; Crown Consulting; and RigiTech, described as an innovator in drone technology. An Eiger drone by RigiTech was used for the flight, Upstate Medical University said.

The BVLOS flight “advances Upstate’s drone program’s goal of providing on-demand transport capability for the efficient, timely, and safe” transport of time-sensitive materials, drugs, blood products, and lab samples, the organization said in its announcement.

“There are many practical and financially sound applications for drones, but the most crucial for Upstate is the ability to expedite care for our most vulnerable patients,” Mark Zeman, Upstate’s chief information officer, said. “Our autonomous machines department has ambitious goals, and thanks to the dedication and leadership of our team and partners, who made this BVLOS flight possible, we’ve achieved a significant advancement in health care using unmanned drones.”

Zeman noted that drones will address the size and rural nature of the region served by Upstate by overcoming “significant transport challenges in providing timely and quality care” throughout the region.

“Our primary motivation for this technology is its use to enhance the patient experience, especially for those in our surrounding communities,” he said.

The New York UAS Test Site is one of seven FAA-designated UAS test sites. It is the only test site at a towered airport, surrounded by Class D airspace with an FAA certificate of waiver authorization with the ability to execute simultaneous manned and unmanned operations, Upstate Medical University said.

The New York UAS test site and its UTM capabilities are managed and operated by AX Enterprize (AX), a UAS-centric technology team.

Air Upstate, AX, and its partners will work with the FAA to build the safety case to enable daily BVLOS deliveries, Upstate Medical University noted.

“This significant accomplishment paves the way for everyday healthcare drone delivery to clinics and underserved communities in a more timely and reliable manner,” Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. said in the announcement. “Upstate Medical University’s Air Upstate drone program is a recognized leader in healthcare drone delivery and Oneida County is happy to partner with them to advance the capabilities of the industry.”