Taiwan to expand drone use in deliveries

The Civil Aviation Administration said it will expand drone deliveries in Taiwan and refine related aviation regulations to facilitate the transport of packages, medical supplies, and medications. 

At a Tuesday seminar, CAA Director Ho Shu-ping (何淑萍) said drones in Taiwan are used for aerial photography, monitoring, pesticide spraying, and disaster search and rescue. She urged local governments to select suitable sites for pilot drone transport services to expand drone applications nationwide.

The administration noted 24 drone transport routes are in use, including Chiayi, Xiaoliuqiu, and remote areas in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Pingtung, and Hualien. The routes have been used primarily to deliver packages and medical supplies.

Ho said the administration plans to establish additional drone flight routes and strengthen safety management. The measures are intended to ensure flight safety and avoid operations near airports and government facilities. She added that the agency will work with local governments to improve UAV regulations to reduce flight risks.

The administration said drones used for delivery must pass inspection. UAVs weighing more than 25 kg are required to undergo system reviews covering propulsion, communications, and flight control, and to complete 50 hours of test flights before beginning operations.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has launched a pilot program in Hualien using UAVs to deliver medicines, blood products, and medical samples to remote areas. The ministry said the system will serve as a backup for medical deliveries when natural disasters disrupt road access.

In March, the National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch partnered with drone software company Earthbook to launch a UAV delivery program for medical supplies to remote areas. The hospital said the program followed four years of mountain terrain testing and is expected to benefit about 130,000 residents in rural parts of the county.

Since 2022, Chunghwa Post has also worked with Coretronic Intelligent Robotics to use drones weighing more than 25 kg to deliver mail and packages to remote areas in Hsinchu, cutting travel time by about half compared with driving.