US cargo airline Ameriflight adds Matternet delivery drones to fleet

Top US cargo carrier Ameriflight has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate drone deliveries as part of its regular services, and will soon begin using California-based UAV developer Matternet’s M2 craft and navigating systems to launch that activity.

Ameriflight, which calls itself the largest Part 135 cargo airline in the US, says its FAA exemption to add Matternet UAVs to its operation makes it the first legacy freight carrier permitted to add drone deliveries parallel to its freight transportation using traditional aircraft.

The Dallas-based company said it plans on using broad flight and production approvals Matternet’s M2 has received from regulators to prepare the launch of the first fully functioning large-scale drone operation in the US. In doing so it will look to provide commercial delivery for health care and e-commerce clients to their customers in dense urban and suburban…