Post Office delivery by drone is set to take off
AS the mum of a toddler, I’ve watched more hours of Postman Pat than I’d care to mention.
However, while Greendale’s finest postie has a van, quad bike and even a helicopter at his disposal, the Royal Mail in Orkney has got something better – a twin-engine drone that can carry 220lb of parcels.
The remote controlled craft delivers to one of Orkney’s furthest islands, North Ronaldsay, and the two-week test sees its cargo collected by the regular postal worker who finishes her rounds in the usual way. The service can cover the 35 miles in under 20 minutes and isn’t thrown off by tides or fog.
If it works, Royal Mail says it could connect more of the UK’s remote communities. Sadly, there’s no room for Pat’s cat Jess!