Finnish post to trial drones

[POSTMAN]

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http://img.yle.fi/uutiset/helsinki/article8252653.ece/ALTERNATES/w580/postikopteriPosti to trial package deliveries via helicopter drones

Postal services Posti will begin trials of drone copters for mail deliveries to the island of Suomenlinna in September. The pilot programme marks the first time that unmanned aerial vehicles have been used for the purpose in Europe

Posti will use the remote-controlled aircraft to deliver packages to Suomenlinna, a former island fortress that forms part of Helsinki.

The drones are expected to take to the air in early September, initially make deliveries to Suomenlinna residents for orders made in the online store Verkkokauppa.com.

Posti said it had informed island residents of the week-long trial.

"As far as we know we are the first in Europe to attempt delivery of packages in an urban environment using helicopter drones," said Posti communications chief Anne Huhtala.

Other mail, such as letters and periodicals, will be delivered by ferry as usual.

The Posti experiment was first reported by the daily Helsingin Sanomat.