RPAS to headline the AfBAA conference

The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) will be strengthening its credentials with the RPAS sector when it features Zipline – the pioneering drone medical delivery service in Rwanda – at its annual conference in Cape Town next month.
Time Aerospace thumbnail

“We are delighted Zipline will be sharing its story of making Medical RPAS deliveries a reality in Rwanda,” said Katy Glynn, chairman of the AfBAA’s RPAS Committee.
“Africa has historically been a place of global innovation and Zipline’s RPAS deliveries illustrate how Africa is in many ways leading the world in unmanned systems operations. We look forward to bringing global attention to this project at the AfBAC RPAS Forum for the benefit of Africa and ongoing support of innovation on the continent,” said Rady Fahmy, executive director of the AfBAA.
Zipline began a partnership with the Rwandan government to deliver blood and blood products to 21 transfusing facilities in western Rwanda. 50% of these blood transfusions benefit mothers experiencing post-partum hemorrhaging; another thirty percent benefit children with severe anemia. Ultimately, the partnership will put all 11 million Rwandan citizens within a 30-minute delivery of any medical product with just two Zipline distribution centres. (see: http://www.africanaerospace.aero/rwanda-s-humanitarian-drone-delivery-service-changing-the-world.html )
I believe that the RPAS opportunity in Africa is enormous due to the lack of competing infrastructure and a regulatory climate that hasn’t already set a bias against RPAS use,” said Mark McIntyre, a business aviation pilot, RPAS enthusiast, and AfBAA RPAS Committee Member who will be sharing the story of Zipline at AfBAC.
The event takes place at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa 17-18 November. Details available from info@afbaa.org