Swoop Aero Pty Ltd - Innovation in Technology Management, Planning & Implementation

Name of Organization / Company: Swoop Aero Pty Ltd
Category: Award for Innovation in Technology Management, Planning & Implementation > All Other Industries

Entry Title: Swoop Aero: Unlocking access to the skies through aeromedical logistics

Swoop Aero is an Australian drone-powered logistics company; founded to transform the way the world moves essential supplies by making access to the air seamless. Swoop Aero is an impact-driven organisation bringing healthcare logistics into the 21st century by deploying bi-directional drone networks that sit behind a fully managed aviation and technological-based platform. The company is trusted to create value by sustainably transforming health supply chains to improve health outcomes in every community and country in which they operate. Since the company’s founding in 2017, Swoop Aero has worked with some of the largest organisations in global health across three continents, including UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UKAID, USAID and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The achievements of the organisation since the company’s first project in December 2018 are discerned through two pillars; impact generated through implementation, and ongoing technology management and innovation to adhere to optimal standards.

Since December 2018, Swoop Aero has achieved a number of “global first’s” following the successful implementation and integration of the bi-directional medical drone logistics network within health supply chains’ in three continents and five countries. The sophistication of the technological-based platform and the successful management of the air logistics network by locally-hired and trained team members is testament to the innovative and ground-breaking nature of the Swoop Aero solution. For example, in Vanuatu, Swoop Aero became the first company in the world to deliver a vaccine by commercial drone. The company was awarded 2 out 3 commercial contracts by UNICEF and the Vanuatu government to support the provision and distribution of basic childhood vaccinations to remote and geographically dispersed islands within the archipelago. The vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability of the aircraft, coupled with the asset light and low impact infrastructure of the aviation platform, enabled the Swoop Aero air logistics platform to overcome transport, infrastructure and geographical barriers

In July 2019, in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Swoop Aero together with NGO partner, VillageReach, initiated Phase 1 of a three-phased implementation project supported by the DRC Ministry of Health to improve the health outcomes of remote communities in the Equateur Province; a community where only 35% of people previously had essential vaccinations. Swoop Aero established Central Africa’s first drone port to enable the sustainable and reliable provision of essential vaccinations and routine medications and also obtained the first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) approvals to operate the medical air logistics network. In December 2020, Swoop Aero returned to DRC to establish the world’s largest drone network, which is 22,000 square kilometres. The sustained network will service 40 health facilities directly, and 70 health facilities indirectly and will also conduct the world’s first bi-directional impact and cost assessment.

In Malawi, Swoop Aero has demonstrated the value of drone technology to support the strengthening of the national health supply chain. Following the opening of the Malawi humanitarian drone corridor in 2017, UNICEF and USAID Global Health Supply Chain (GHSC) released a global tender for unmanned aviation services to complete operations in the Northern region of Nkhata Bay. Swoop Aero commenced operations in Northern Malawi in December 2019. In the first month of 2020, Swoop Aero expanded operations in Malawi by partnering with UKAID and UNICEF, to service the Southern districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje. These regions cover a total geographical area of 3327 square kilometres. Swoop Aero is servicing 38 health centres across the two districts via the establishment of two drone hubs. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Swoop Aero became the first company in the world to complete piloting duties from outside the country of origin. As supported by the 6 full-time local team members, this innovative and groundbreaking solution ensured the continued and uninterrupted delivery of emergency and routine health supplies.

Links:

https://vimeo.com/401764954
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/drones-the-future-of-medical-delivery-says-swoop-aero/news-story/12b2d1b176803cc70a6a26c0accbfa93?btr=ea333c967de566c3f4e6e0322aa32f48
https://www.9news.com.au/national/aussie-drones-fight-coronavirus-in-africa/e6eaba98-6c95-4293-90e1-e709a2a5ee43
https://www.smartcompany.com.au/coronavirus/swoop-aero-covid-19-drones/
https://www.afr.com/technology/melbourne-startup-swoop-aero-wins-first-contract-to-deliver-vaccines-via-drones-20181023-h16z7m
https://www.ausbiz.com.au/media/is-drone-tech-the-delivery-of-the-future?videoId=616
https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-your-home-delivery-may-soon-need-a-flight-plan-20200529-p54xt6.html