How FedEx is using drones

Pilot program launches in Virginia; Wing drones transport select FedEx deliveries directly
to homes through the air

First commercial residential delivery by drone to a residence in Christiansburg, Virginia, was

completed on October 18th, 2019 in the United States. As part of the U.S. Department of
Transportation's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program, Wing Aviation and FedEx
Express worked together to carry out the drone delivery (IPP).

The first planned, commercial home drone delivery service as well as the first trial of scheduled e-
commerce drone delivery in the United States are both launched with the delivery of a FedEx
Express package.

Wing drones will deliver specific FedEx packages throughout the trial to eligible residences in
Christiansburg, showcasing the advantages of drone delivery for last-mile delivery services. Wing is
the first company to have been given permission by the FAA to carry out routine commercial drone
package deliveries to homes.

Customers of FedEx who reside in certain delivery zones in Christiansburg, Virginia, and who elect to
use the Wing delivery service will be able to receive qualifying packages via drone during the pilot
programme, providing specific operating requirements are met. The pilot programme for Wing also
features a partnership with Walgreens that enables programme participants to order health and
wellness goods through Wing's delivery app. Wing drones will deliver specific

FedEx delivered products over the course of the trial to Christiansburg residents who qualified,
highlighting the benefits of drone delivery for last-mile delivery services. Wing is the first business to
receive approval from the FAA to use commercial drones to deliver packages to homes on a regular
basis.

If certain operating conditions are met, FedEx customers who live delivery zones in Christiansburg,
Virginia, and choose to employ the Wing delivery service will be able to receive eligible packages via
drone during the test programme. Additionally, the Wing pilot programme includes a collaboration
with Walgreens that enables programme participants to order health and wellness products through
the Wing delivery app. Along with the Memphis Shelby-County Airport Authority, FedEx is a part of
the U.S. DOT's Unmanned Aircraft System IPP and operates drones on airport grounds to gather data
for use in future UAS regulation. 

FedEx and Elroy Air work to launch test flights aimed at middle-mile delivery
in 2023

In order to create the first end-to-end autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial freight
system, Elroy Air, based in the California Bay Area, and FedEx Express, a division of FedEx Corp. and
the largest express shipping company in the world, are collaborating. In a first for the country, FedEx
Express will create plans to test Elroy Air's Chaparral autonomous air freight system within the
middle-mile logistics operations of the business, transporting products between sortation facilities.
In an effort to study and integrate cutting-edge technology across its networks, FedEx has launched
its most recent endeavour.

In all phases of the supply chain, the demand for dependable, effective transportation and logistics
solutions has increased due to the exponential rise of e-commerce. In order to better the safety,
effectiveness, and productivity of its 600,000 team members while still advancing the world, FedEx
thinks that innovation and automation must continue.

In January 2022, Elroy Air unveiled its recognisable Chaparral autonomous aircraft. Aerial cargo
system the Chaparral can autonomously pick up and transport 300–500 pounds of cargo up to 300
kilometres in the air. Without extra infrastructure, such as airports or charging stations, the
Chaparral is capable of longer-distance flights.