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Chandler launches drone delivery test program for medical supplies

Delivery drones are coming to Chandler, thanks to a testing agreement between the City Council, the Maricopa Association of Governments and drone company Airspace Link. The drones will deliver medical supplies from Omnicare, a distributor, to Sunrise of Chandler, an assisted-living facility.

“We think this is a good step to do a few flights," said Ryan Kaup, the economic development project manager for the city of Chandler. "It’s only going to be seven days of testing over two weeks and we can begin to see how the community responds to it, see how the flights run and get feedback and decide whether this is something we want to continue and grow in the future.”

Kaup says the drone and accompanying package cannot exceed 55 pounds and cannot fly above 400 feet.

Drone operators will be required at both ends of the 1.2 mile delivery route. The drones will run on electricity and not gasoline.

The pilot project will be funded by MAG's Emerging Technologies Pilot Program and is expected to begin in the summer.

Rithwik Kalale was an intern at KJZZ in 2023.