TCS tests medical drone missions in Europe with partners

The three mobility clubs have joined forces to explore the potential for joint deployments of drones to deliver essential medical goods and services. The partnership builds on the local expertise of each organization to test a coordinated approach to multinational medical drone services.

TCS has now joined the existing cooperation between ANWB and ÖAMTC as an equal partner. The three organizations will focus on the feasibility of joint European drone operations with a particular focus on the possibility of scaling medical drone services. The operational, regulatory and technological challenges will be analyzed in order to create a basis for future implementation.

The partnership between ANWB, ÖAMTC and TCS can significantly improve the form of medical care and services across Europe. By pooling resources and expertise, the clubs aim to identify new opportunities for the use of medical drone deliveries and pave the way for more extensive international cooperation in the future.

"This collaboration is a great opportunity for all mobility clubs involved and our medical partners," said Bastiaan Kroes, Director of ANWB Medical Air Assistance, Netherlands. "Drone operations require a scale that we can achieve through our partners. By working together, we can reduce risks and organize the mission much more efficiently. The medical facilities benefit from better and more affordable logistics. That is the most important thing for us."

"Delivering medical goods by drone is a promising addition to conventional means of transportation. As a pioneer in this field, ÖAMTC Air Rescue began research and development five years ago. Initial experience quickly showed that international cooperation is essential for the establishment of a successful drone network. We are therefore delighted to be working with our established partners TCS and ANWB in a joint European project to enable drone deliveries of time-critical medical goods for hospitals," says Marco Trefanitz, Managing Director, ÖAMTC Air Rescue.

"At TCS, we are committed to mobility solutions that benefit our members and society as a whole," says Jürg Wittwer, Director General of TCS. "With this partnership, we can contribute to a project that could have a profound impact on the delivery of medical services in Europe, while building a bridge to local Swiss organizations and partners." TCS has long been a key player in promoting mobility solutions, including a first supporting project on the use of drones in medical logistics. It has also been active in the medical field for over 60 years, in particular through medical advice and repatriations for the year-round travel insurance, the ETI cover letter, and it is the largest private provider of rescue services in Switzerland.

The collaboration was made possible by the "Drone & Vertical Mobility Academy", a joint project of the TCS Mobility Academy and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to support and advise FIA member clubs on their entry into the drone market.

Source: TCS