Vehicles like the "eVTOL" that the famous Chinese company CoolFly began flying in Hulhumalé yesterday are aircraft that could serve important uses across various islands of the Maldives, the Transport Ministry stated today.
The ministry stated that such electric drones are vehicles that can be used to provide essential services to islands. The ministry highlighted five services that could be provided using such vehicles. These are:
- Transporting medical samples from health facilities in one island to laboratories in other islands.
- Transporting urgently required medicines, vaccines, and other important items needed for medical treatment.
- Transporting first aid kits and other equipment during emergency situations and disasters.
- Transporting people for medical purposes by bringing suitable modifications to the aircraft's design.
- Monitoring the environment and infrastructure.
According to the Transport Ministry, although this technology cannot replace the ferries and domestic flights currently used in transport, it is something that will facilitate those services.
The ministry also stated that introducing such vehicles to the Maldives and using them to transport goods will open up economic opportunities. It stated that this would revive new industries and create job opportunities for skilled individuals.
One work opportunity that will be created when passenger and cargo drones are introduced and put into use, as stated by the Transport Ministry, is providing maintenance, engineering, and technical support for the aircraft. Another is job availability for pilots and technicians.
Selling batteries required for these vehicles and charging services are also opportunities that will arise. Supplying equipment needed for medical emergencies, as well as airspace management and developing aviation software, were also highlighted by the ministry as available opportunities.
According to the Transport Ministry, the event held today to demonstrate how the eVTOL vehicle operates was conducted jointly by the ministry and the Chinese Embassy. The purpose was to highlight the opportunities existing in the sector for relevant institutions and businesses.
The activity to fly the eVTOL "manned drone" began yesterday in the Channel area of Hulhumalé Phase 1. The activity will continue today as well.
Demonstrated in the event was a single-seat "Dream ST" model eVTOL vehicle by the Coolfly company.
eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) is a modern vehicle designed to take off and land straight up and down like a helicopter, powered by electricity.
This is an environmentally friendly and quiet technology.
