Swiss Post refines safety processes after drone crash
Swiss Post's drone for the delivery of parcels, as presented in 2017
Ti-press
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/Swiss Post/swissinfo.ch/ilj
An interim report into the most recent Swiss Post drone crash has recommended improvements to the parachute and warning system. Swiss Post has announced that it has already taken measures to improve drone safety.
A drone belonging to a Swiss Post medical deliveries programme crashed on May 9 in a Zurich forest – the second crash in four months. It was not carrying any supplies and nobody was hurt, but the drone was totally destroyed.
An interim report by the Swiss Transport Safety Investigation BoardExternal link (STSB), published on Friday, has shed some light on the accident. Around two minutes after taking off, the drone automatically set off its flight termination system and made an emergency landing. The emergency parachute was set off, but the connecting line to the drone tore.
The investigation also found that the warning signal, which goes off at the same time as the parachute is released, was not heard by people nearby. Two kindergarten teachers and children had been close to the accident site.
The exact cause of why the emergency landing was necessary will be the subject of the final report. In the meantime, the STSB has recommended some safety measures: that the parachute rope is more robust and that the warning signal is more audible.
Post reaction
Swiss Post has already stopped all drone flights after the accident until further notice, but on Friday it announced that it was refining its safety processesExternal link. This includes establishing a board of experts to advise Swiss Post on risk and safety management on drone flight operations in the future.
It has also reacted to the safety points raised in the STSB report including reinforcing the parachute ropes and increasing the number to two and making the drone signal louder. It is not acceptable to Swiss Post that the safety measures have not worked, the company said.
“Swiss Post’s aim is to align its risk and safety management with normal aviation standards,” it added in a statement.
Nevertheless, the company wants to continue to pioneer drone technology as it believes that drones can make an important contribution to efficient healthcare.
More
More
Post office uses drones to connect hospitals
This content was published on
After initial tests in Lugano, Swiss Post will now also fly the skies over the Swiss capital, Bern.
More than 600,000 rounds of Swiss sniper ammunition reach Ukraine
This content was published on
Sniper ammunition from Swiss P Defence reached Ukraine via a Polish company in July 2023, reported SRF Investigativ on Thursday, citing official information.
Environment minister outlines Swiss efforts to limit global warming
This content was published on
Switzerland will do its part to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celcius, said Environment Minister Albert Rösti, who's attending COP29 in Baku.
This content was published on
Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled. Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled. Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Post resumes drone flights after Zurich accident
This content was published on
Swiss Post is to restart drone flights for healthcare services, which were grounded after an accident involving a drone on Lake Zurich in January.
This content was published on
Tens of thousands of drones are flying over Switzerland unregistered but now the authorities are trying to put an end to their uncontrolled use.
How Switzerland and the US are preparing for a drone future
This content was published on
Francesco Bortoluzzi of the swissnex network explains how the US and Switzerland have been collaborating on drone regulation.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.