First scheduled flight operations with drones launched in Germany

THIRD ELEMENT AVIATION's drone fleet is now taking off from Lüdenscheid to offer companies alternative delivery logistics. The first approval for commercial scheduled flights with drones has been granted

Bielefeld/Lüdenscheid, February 21, 2024 - THIRD ELEMENT AVIATION, a drone manufacturer from Bielefeld, together with the Koerschulte Group from Lüdenscheid, has received the first approval for commercial scheduled flight connections with drones from the German Federal Aviation Office. This permit enables the commercial use of drones for delivery logistics in Lüdenscheid.

The Koerschulte drone logistics service, which was initiated in 2020, was previously in test mode and now delivers parcels in scheduled flight operations. The drone fleet is fully automated and is intended to offer companies in Lüdenscheid an alternative delivery logistics service, especially for urgently needed parts that often get stuck in traffic jams due to traffic problems.

The last mile is always the most expensive and complicated because of the many roads, roadworks and speed limits. 50 meters above that, everything is free

Marius Schröder, CEO of 3EA

Norman Koerschulte, CEO of the Koerschulte Group, was positive about the development and emphasized the advantages of drone operations in a city with known traffic chaos. The drone flights are expected to transport up to 80 parcels per day without being held up by traffic disruptions. The automated drone flights only require monitoring by employees, who only intervene when necessary.

6.5 kg load capacity - pure flight time 45 minutes

The Koerschulte drone logistics service offers a complete solution for companies, including the installation of parcel boxes on site and fully automated delivery by drones. The latest AURIOL drone can carry up to 6.5 kg, flies fully automatically and has a pure flight time of 45 minutes. With a speed of up to 65 km/h and rechargeable batteries that can be powered by green electricity, the AURIOL is a sustainable alternative to road delivery.

Benjamin Wiens, Managing Director of THIRD ELEMENT AVIATION, emphasized the collaboration with the Koerschulte GROUP as a step towards the introduction of drone delivery in everyday life. This development could influence the logistics industry in Germany and enable various applications from B2B logistics to emergency logistics.

Integration in urban areas

The introduction of scheduled flight operations with drones marks a significant step towards efficient and alternative delivery logistics implemented through the use of drones in the air. The launch of the first commercial scheduled flights using drones by THIRD ELEMENT AVIATION and the Koerschulte Group is a breath of fresh air in the field of air logistics. This development not only sheds new light on delivery logistics in urban areas, but also raises exciting questions about how politicians will position themselves on this topic. The future of drone logistics in urban areas will be of crucial importance. It remains to be seen how regulators and policy makers will shape the integration of this technology into public spaces. In any case, the upcoming developments promise an exciting journey for the entire industry.