This research project represents the first and only time in Europe that a flight by an unmanned aircraft will be operated outside of the pilot's field of vision in a real-life mission. By taking this step, DHL Parcel has moved to the next phase of the parcelcopter research project it launched in December 2013.

Working with its two research and development partners, the Institute of Flight System Dynamics at RWTH Aachen University and Microdrones GmbH, DHL Parcel has completed a comprehensive consultation and approval process led by Lower Saxony's Ministry for Economics, Labor and Transport. In coordination with DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the German Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure has established a restricted flight area exclusively for this research project.

In addition to the island of Juist and the city of Norden, the Wattenmeer national park administrative unit approved the parcelcopter flights.

Since its maiden flight last December, the DHL parcelcopter has been modified to perform this specific type of mission.

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