The first ‘test flights’ of drones which could soon be delivering shopping and takeaways through Cork city skies will begin within the next few days.
Cork Beo understands that Manna Air Delivery will begin initial test flights of drones in the South East Ward (which includes Mahon, Blackrock, Douglas and Rochestown areas), however the exact location for the test flights is yet to be revealed.
Local councillors and representatives have been notified of the plans to begin drone tests as early as this weekend. The first test drops are understood to be ‘goodie bag’ deliveries to select customers. Manna, which operates an air delivery service in Dublin – including the option to have certain JustEat takeaways delivered by drone – is hoping to get on good footing with Cork customers after controversy surrounding air space restrictions in the city.
The introduction of delivery drones to Cork got off to a bad start when the Irish Aviation Authority announced airspace restrictions over the city the would essentially make Cork skies a ‘no drone zone.‘ However it is now understood that these strict regulations will be rowed back.
Last week, it emerged that strict air space restrictions for drones would mean drone pilots would not be able to operate without explicit permission from Cork Air Traffic Control and a two-day notice period. It’s understood that the air restrictions were to be put in place to enable safe operation of delivery drones after Manna requested permission to operate their air delivery services in Cork.
Local councillors who strongly opposed it included Labour’s Peter Horgan and Green Party Councillor Oliver Moran who accusing the IAA of prioritising one commercial operator over all other drone users in the city. Not only would it affect hobbyists, but have a significant practical, administrative, and financial burden for local companies using drones for surveying, photography, and other services.
Now, Cork Beo understands the two-day notice will be rescinded – and a ‘work around’ will be put to facilitate hobby drone users and other drone flights that keep within existing regulations. It’s understood that Manna and the IAA have listened to the concerns of representatives and drone users – and less draconian restrictions are due to be announced.
Green Party councillor, Oliver Moran, attended an industry meeting last night organised by the Unmanned Aircraft Association of Ireland and attended also by Manna and welcomed progress to resolve the issue. He said: “It’s an evolving situation, but what I saw last night was certainly a significant step forward in terms of finding an industry position on the new restrictions. There are ideas emerging, some with potential to put Cork at the forefront of the industry in terms of the sharing of airspace. I would push for a maximalist position on the ideas discussed. We need to see how that advances and that all partners involved, including the IAA, will step up to that challenge.
“One of the things that this crisis has highlighted is how far and how quickly drone use in the day-to-day life of a city has advanced. They are now used in everything from wedding photography to civil engineering to search and rescue.
“I think there’s a role for Cork City Council to step forward in supporting that. We don’t currently reference drones in our development plan, either in planning regulations or in supporting STEM and community uses, such as flight parks. If we can all evolve quickly to meet that challenge, there are opportunities, but that has to be for everyone and in the common good.”
Manna is hoping to transform the way we see deliveries in Cork. On its website, it prides itself on being able ‘skip roads entirely’ to fly delivery drones at 80km/h and drop off anything from food to fashion and pharma to your doorstep. At the moment, it is most recognised for its ability to whizz a takeaway from a restaurant through the air and (gently) drop it into your garden within minutes.
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