AGS Airports-led medical drone delivery project wins innovation award

A medical drone delivery project led by AGS Airports Ltd has been recognised for its excellence in innovation at the Scottish Transport Awards.

The Project CAELUS consortium, led by AGS Airports in partnership with NHS Scotland, picked up the Excellence in Technology and Innovation award.

CAELUS (Care & Equity – Healthcare Logistics UAS Scotland), secured £10.1 million funding from the Future Flight Challenge at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) last month in July to deliver what will be the UK’s first medical distribution network using drones has launched its next phase.

CAELUS and both Glasgow and Aberdeen airports were praised by Scottish Transport Award judges for their innovation during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has a devastating impact on the entire aviation industry.

Our sister airport Aberdeen International, which remained open throughout the pandemic to service critical operations including lifeline Highlands and Islands flights and Oil and Gas connectivity, was also named Airport of the Year on the night.

Chief Executive of AGS Airports Derek Provan said: “We are delighted to see Project CAELUS recognised for all its hard work to deliver the UK’s first medical distribution network using drones and thrilled to see Aberdeen win the Airport of the Year.

“Despite a challenging period for our airports and the wider industry over the last two years, we continue to strive to deliver for our passengers and Scotland.”

Fiona Smith, AGS Airports Group Head of Aerodrome Strategy and CAELUS Project Director, said: “We were delighted when we heard we had been shortlisted in the Scottish Transport Awards earlier this year so to win is a fantastic achievement.

“The CAELUS project is set to revolutionise the way in which healthcare services are delivered in Scotland. A drones network can ensure critical medical supplies can be delivered more efficiently, it can reduce waiting times for test results and, more importantly, it can provide equity of care between urban and remote rural communities.

“This award is testament to the hard work by all the partners involved in this consortium and I thank them all as we continue onto the next phase of work.”

Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth MSP and host Grant Scott welcomed 450 industry professionals to the event last night to celebrate the people and organisations that make a real difference to transport across Scotland.

You can find out more about Project CAELUS here.