So far, the project has examined the economic conditions for long-distance drone deliveries, ground infrastructure needs, permits, and technical requirements. As part of the project, real flight tests will be carried out to gain a better understanding of what is required for commercial scaling of drone deliveries and to identify potential challenges that may arise in a real-world environment.
“Flying several kilos of actual cargo completely autonomously over such a long distance is incredibly interesting in terms of improving the efficiency of future goods deliveries across many sectors and creating a system where different modes of transport work together,” says Annelie Viksten at Arctic Aviation Hub.
At Skellefteå Droneport, processes such as package handling, transshipment, and drone preparation will be tested, while in Norsjö, the focus will be on receiving the goods safely and efficiently. The flights will cover a distance of 70 kilometers and be conducted under winter conditions, which presents several challenges but will also generate valuable data regarding energy consumption, costs, flight time, weather impact, and much more.
/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skellefteasciencecity.se%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2025%2F09%2FFlygande_dronare-scaled.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skellefteasciencecity.se%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2025%2F11%2FEl-laddstation16x9.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skellefteasciencecity.se%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2025%2F11%2FNordluft4.jpg)
/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skellefteasciencecity.se%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2025%2F10%2FElflyg_Skelleftea_Airport.png)