Speedbird Aero, UTM Developer High Lander Partner to Increase Safety and Efficiency of Global Drone Delivery

Speedbird Aero and High Lander Partner to Revolutionize Global Drone Delivery

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Brazilian drone delivery company Speedbird Aero and Israeli uncrewed traffic management (UTM) developer High Lander have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will increase the safety and efficiency of drone-based deliveries while enabling future partnerships and collaborations worldwide. Both companies offer field-tested drones and airspace management solutions that see active use at scale. With the use of High Lander’s Universal UTM, Speedbird Aero will guarantee the safety and efficiency of its flight operations, while proving to regulators that total oversight of uncrewed aerial activity is attainable.

The partnership will also establish a strategic foundation for a consortium of aviation businesses across Latin America. The two companies are in contact with stakeholders such as the Brazilian Association of Civil Aviation Pilots (ABRAPAC), the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), the Brazilian Department of Airspace Control (DECEA), Embraer, Saipher, and others.

Speedbird Aero creates UAVs for transport and delivery for commercial, industrial and healthcare applications, in addition to droneports that provide the supporting infrastructure for these vehicles. The company was the first to be granted regulatory approval from the ANAC to launch commercial drone deliveries, including BVLOS and night flights, and has leading partners in industries such as food delivery, healthcare, and e-commerce. Speedbird Aero leverages its drone fleet for logistic purposes in Brazil and other nations, conducting more than 10,000 deliveries in its just its first two years of operation.

A drone-agnostic uncrewed traffic management solution, Universal UTM is designed to allow for the safe and efficient integration of drones into global airspaces. The automated air traffic control system works 24/7 to coordinate all nearby drones, guaranteeing that they do not interfere with crewed aircraft and establishing the necessary infrastructure to manage the growing amount of aerial traffic. Universal UTM has been approved to provide UTM services to the Israeli National Police Force, and has been successfully tested for integration with current national air traffic control systems.

“We are excited to partner with High Lander since they are market leaders in the UTM space, and by integrating their services we enhance the safety and efficiency of our logistic operations via drone,” said Speedbird Aero CPO Samuel Salomao. “By leveraging High Lander’s UTM technology, we can ensure the safe and efficient operation of our drones, enabling us to deliver packages faster and more reliably than ever before, even in the most complex environments.”

High Lander has signed this MOU as part of a larger goal to expand its reach into the LATAM region. Its other efforts include collaborating with ABRAPAC to enable drones to coexist with helicopter traffic in Sao Paolo, alongside larger plans with regulatory bodies ANAC and DECEA and nationwide ATM provider Saipher.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Speedbird Aero to help them demonstrate that drone technology is the future of global deliveries,” said High Lander CEO Alon Abelson. “Universal UTM is the perfect complement to Speedbird’s next-generation hardware, providing the tools they need to effectively monitor the airspace and prevent conflicts, which enables them to deliver packages with greater speed, efficiency, and safety, regardless of the location.”

Read more:

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• ANRA in Japan: Demonstrating Airspace Management and Drone Delivery Platforms
• Swiggy and ANRA Make History: BVLOS Drone Delivery in India

Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.