A Quebec company has just obtained authorization from Transport Canada to carry out delivery tests by drone, between Varennes and Repentigny, east of Montreal. She says she wants to offer an “inexpensive” solution to companies with “light packages” to transport from one bank to the other, in the wake of the partial closure of the Louis-Hippolyte-Lafontaine tunnel.
Posted at 3:17 p.m.
DroneTechnic, a young Varennes company, received the green light from the federal government to carry out “connectivity tests” between the two cities, shows a document signed by a Transport Canada inspector and dated November 2, including The Press got a copy.
However, it will still take time before parcels can be delivered to businesses in this corridor. “Once the tests are done, we will need to obtain a second authorization, this one to carry out commercial operations strictly speaking,” says the company’s founder, Michel Lizotte.
However, these tests should not take too long, he said. “We are talking about a corridor of about four kilometers, so it is for example to assess what would be best between a cellular LTE cellular connection, or rather an RF link, or even to determine if there are differences between a day or night flight, with humidity in the air. In short, that sort of thing. And it can go quickly, ”continues the businessman.
Also a pilot by training, Mr. Lizotte had already obtained authorization from Transport Canada last April to provide theoretical and practical training on BVLOS operations, ie the act of navigating a drone without direct visibility, particularly in an urban environment.
Up to 17 lbs, “limited” volume
A DroneTechnic drone could deliver packages weighing up to 17 pounds, but of a “limited” volume, and transport them in less than 5 minutes from one shore to the other, up to ten times per hour. If its commercial activities are authorized, it would be the first air delivery corridor of this kind in Quebec, from one warehouse to another.
“We are late in Quebec, and we have proof that it can be done in Montreal. Delivery by drones between companies is already done elsewhere in other Canadian provinces, particularly in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. It’s rather ironic, in fact, that we don’t do that a lot in Quebec yet. With the river, there are many opportunities to cross the banks,” continues Mr. Lizotte.
What he lacks now are partners. “I especially need companies in Repentigny and Varennes who are in trouble with the La Fontaine tunnel, and who need this service. We have the knowledge, we have the green lights. Now, if we find people to embark on the project, we will have everything we need to leave, ”summarizes the main interested party.
To interested companies, he also reminds that his drone delivery solution is “turnkey” and “without ecological footprint”.
The spokesperson for Transport Canada, Allison St-Jean, confirms for her part that other “trials or flight tests of parcel delivery by drones have already taken place in several provinces, including Quebec”. These are all “pilot projects” for now, however.