Medical drone delivery trial’s airspace restriction sparks UK dispute

As an additional reminder that you can’t make everyone happy – especially in this divided, frequently infuriated world – a UK medical drone delivery project has come under considerable fire for its efforts to seek prolonged flight restrictions across an expanse of airspace that locals say would effectively shut down local air traffic.

As DroneDJ reported in when it began last February, specialized medical UK drone delivery startup Apian Aero conducted a five-month series of trial flights transporting patient test samples, medicines, and supplies between Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust facilities.  

The tests partnered with UAV infrastructure and drone services company Skyports, and is one of the proliferating experiments around the world to improve and speed healthcare results using small, often automated aircraft to replace slower-moving ground transport.

Under its request to regulators, Apian is seeking an extension of…