Successful drone flight carrying medical supplies between two Madrid hospitals under the European U-ELCOME project

Madrid’s Carlos III and La Paz hospitals have witnessed a demonstration of medical supply transport by drone between the two centres. As part of the European U-ELCOME project, coordinated by EUROCONTROL and led in Spain by ENAIRE, today’s trial was carried out using U-Space technology to manage drone operations in the airspace. The operation was particularly noteworthy for taking place in an urban environment with complex airspace, given its proximity to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport as well as the presence of urban heliports nearby. 

The demonstration involved a drone flight in the city of Madrid between Hospital Carlos III and Hospital de La Paz, transporting medical supplies through urban airspace managed as U-Space 

The pilots, from Bluenest by Globalvia, used U-Space services to monitor the position of their drone and any other nearby drones at all times, as well as to follow a defined flight plan with alerts to warn them if the drone strayed from its designated route, among other functions. 

These U-Space services were provided by the technology centre ITG through its USSP platform, Daliah®. ENAIRE, acting as the Common Information Service Provider (CISP), played a key role by supplying the airspace information necessary for ITG to deliver its U-Space services. 

Details of the operation 

The distance between the two hospitals is 1.5 km by road, and around 900 m in a straight line. The flight lasted approximately three minutes and required an operational authorisation from the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), a specific operational study, and a risk analysis. Among the safety measures used on the drone were a parachute, an automatic flight termination system, and a containment system in case any unforeseen events occurred. 

The drone, a DJI Matrice 350 RTK (C3), took off from the rooftop of a building within the Carlos III hospital complex. Its route passed mainly over landscaped areas, some hospital buildings, and over roads, which were temporarily closed to traffic during the flight, before finally landing on the rooftop of La Paz Hospital. 

Given the complexity of this operation, conducted at a height of 30 m, two pilots from Bluenest by Globalvia were involved. Both were specifically certified for this operation and remained coordinated throughout the flight, taking control of the aircraft at different points along the route. The first pilot commenced the flight from Carlos III Hospital, handing over control to the second pilot at the landing point at La Paz Hospital, in a procedure known as a “handover”, who then completed the manoeuvre until the end of the flight. 

To minimise potential air risks, both pilots had access to aviation-band radios (in case coordination with any manned aircraft was necessary), and the operation included a Visual Observer (VO) responsible for alerting the pilots to any possible aerial hazards. 

This exercise in Madrid, held as part of European Mobility Week, demonstrates the feasibility of transporting medical supplies by drone in an urban environment. Additionally, conducting this urban flight along a corridor between hospitals, using U-Space digital technology, helps reduce risks both in the air and on the ground. 

[From left to right, Enrique Maurer (ENAIRE), Benito Núñez (Ministry) and José María García (Community of Madrid)].

What is U-space? 

As part of the European Digital Sky initiative, the European Union has developed the concept of U-space as a set of digital services and specific procedures designed to enable the safe, efficient and automated management of drones, especially in areas with high air traffic density or near airports. 

In this context, ENAIRE has been designated the Sole Common Information Services Provider (CISP) in Spain. This role makes ENAIRE the bridge between traditional air navigation services and new digital drone operators. Through its U-space platform, ENAIRE facilitates the exchange of essential data, ensuring smooth and safe coordination of airspace in areas where U-space is applied. 

"This flight marks a milestone in drone operations in the Community of Madrid, demonstrating that these aircraft can bring benefits to society in areas such as sustainable urban mobility or emergency healthcare response”, said Rodrigo Benedit Pascual, a specialist in ENAIRE’s Drone Business Development Department and technical coordinator of the U-ELCOME project in Spain, who added that “U-space services play a key role in this type of operation, making it possible to carry them out safely and without interfering with other airspace users". 

[Family photo of Benito Núñez (Ministry) and José María García (Community of Madrid)].