Sample from air reaches lab
In the heart of Germany, a revolutionary change is taking place in the realm of healthcare logistics. A one-meter long, 60-centimeter high drone named Labfly, developed by Berlin-based startup DI-AV-EN, is now delivering crucial blood samples between Albstadt and Balingen.
This drone project, initially conceived by the regional hospital association RKH Gesundheit, in collaboration with the Helios group and drone manufacturer German Copters, is a significant step forward in Germany's healthcare industry. The Labfly drone, operated by logistics service provider Di-Av-En, can deliver cargo to its destination in just twelve minutes, offering a dramatic reduction in transit time compared to traditional road transportation.
The transport of laboratory samples from Albstadt to Balingen falls into a particularly high-risk category in aviation law due to the drones flying over inhabited areas and the hazardous nature of the cargo (untested samples). However, the engineers from Berlin have received the first German permit from the Federal Aviation Office to transport cargo with automatically flying drones outside the line of sight of the remote pilot over inhabited areas.
The Zollernalb-Klinikum, whose sole shareholder is the Zollernalb district, is the client for the Labfly drone services. The hospital chief, Gerhard Hinger, expects costs of 75,000 euros per year for the drones, based on seven daily transports, seven days a week. This is a significant saving compared to the annual costs of between 180,000 and 200,000 euros that were incurred prior to the use of the Labfly drone, when blood samples had to be transported by car between Albstadt and Balingen.
The Stuttgart Regional Council, responsible for all questions regarding aviation and aviation safety throughout the state, has also approved two routes in 2021: Helios for flights between Breisach and Müllheim, and RKH Gesundheit for flights between Ludwigsburg, Markgröningen, and Mühlacker.
It is important to note that the Labfly drone project in the Zollernalb district is not the first attempt to use drones in healthcare in the southwest. The dual regulatory approach in Germany, with federal regulations setting the fundamental safety, certification, and operational rules for medical drones, including Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights essential for healthcare logistics, and state-level rules primarily addressing local airspace management and no-fly zones, allows for both uniform safety standards and local operational flexibility.
The Labfly drone is equipped with an insulated cargo hold to protect samples from heat and rain, and its batteries can be recharged in just half an hour. This innovative technology is set to revolutionise healthcare logistics across Germany, offering faster, safer, and more cost-effective transportation solutions for critical medical supplies.
While the Labfly drone has successfully taken to the skies in Albstadt, it is not yet flying in Ludwigsburg and Helios has not pursued the project further at this time. Despite this, the Labfly drone's success in Albstadt serves as a promising example for the future of medical drone delivery services in Germany.
The revolutionary Labfly drone, developed by Berlin-based startup DI-AV-EN, is not only making strides in science and technology, but also significantly impacting health-and-wellness by delivering critical medical samples faster and more cost-effectively. This project, led by the regional hospital association RKH Gesundheit, has received the first German permit from the Federal Aviation Office, paving the way for more advanced healthcare logistics across Germany.
