First delivery drone license issued by China's aviation authority

China's aviation authority has given the go-ahead to a technology company in the city of Hangzhou to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to deliver goods.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has issued a "specific unmanned aerial vehicle commissioning letter" and "unmanned aerial vehicle logistics distribution business license" to Hangzhou Songba Logistics Technology Company, the first approval of its kind in China.

The chief engineer of the company's UAVs, Yin Shijun, said the issuing of the license is a milestone for pilotless aviation in China.

The company's air distribution network will be used to deliver first aid and medical supplies during its testing period. Currently, the company's drones have a maximum point-to-point range of 20 kilometers.

It is estimated that by 2020, 1,000 aircraft will be in daily use by the company's air distribution services.

[File Photo: VCG]