Phase 0 Technology Demonstration
Phase 1 Safety & Feasibility Testing
Phase 2 Measuring Effectiveness
Phase 3 Expanding Impact

Country

Malawi

Year Flights Began

2020

Contact Organization

Swoop Aero

Evidence Generated

Total # of successful flights

1808

# of Months of Sustained Flights

9

Average # of Flights Per Month Carrying Payload

200

Average Flight Distance Achieved

21.3 km

Type of flight permission secured

  • No permission required
  • VLoS
  • BVLos
  • Other – see full data set

Location of Flight Permission

  • Site specific permission
  • Broad geographic permission
  • Other – see full data set

Average Payload Carried per Flight

2.5 kg

Average Flight Speed

115 km/h

Estimated Population Served By Flight Operations

800,000

Duration of flight permission

  • One-time
  • Limited duration
  • Unlimited duration
  • Other - see full data set

Results measured

  • Operational costs
  • Supply chain performance
  • Operations and financing models
  • Health outcomes or impact

References to Findings

Related Project Phases

Implementation Details

Status of Project

Ongoing

Contact Person

Sabrina Ravail
sabrina@swoop.aero

Other Partners

DFID, Malawi Ministry of Health, UNICEF Malawi

Payload

COVID-19 supplies and diagnostic specimens, vaccines, essential medicines and routine diagnostic specimens

Geographic Scope

Services from two drone hub to 38 health centers in Nsanje and Chikwawa districts

Funding Source

Frontier Technology Livestreaming and Swoop Aero

Drone Technology

Drone Supplier

Swoop Aero

Model Name

Kookaburra

Method of Flight

VTOL fixed wing

Propulsion

Electric motor

Power Source

Battery

Payload Capacity

3.0 kg
19 x 12 x 9 cm

Maximum flight time with full payload in still air

60 minutes

Radio Links

Satcom

Delivery method

Landing

Role

Delivery & collection

Are major repairs possible on-site?

Yes, with 3D printer