Operations
Approvals: FAA Part 135 air carrier (2023); national aviation approvals in Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya
Autonomy: Catapult launch, parachute drop and wire-arrest recovery; autonomous flight with remote supervision.
Primary use: Blood, vaccines and medical supplies to clinics and hospitals.
Operators and customers: Health ministries of Rwanda and Ghana; Nigerian and Kenyan state health programs.
Aircraft record
Aircraft record
| Make | Zipline |
| Class | delivery |
| Type | fixed-wing |
| Country | United States |
| Powertrain | battery-electric |
| Payload (kg) | 1.8 |
| Range (km) | 80 |
| Autonomy | Catapult launch, parachute drop and wire-arrest recovery; autonomous flight with remote supervision |
| Regulatory | FAA Part 135 air carrier (2023); national aviation approvals in Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya |
| Primary use | Blood, vaccines and medical supplies to clinics and hospitals |
| Operators | Health ministries of Rwanda and Ghana; Nigerian and Kenyan state health programs |
| Status | in service |
| Record updated | 2026-10 |
Official site: zipline.com
In context
Where it fits
Listed in Delivery Drones. Drones are compared on payload against range and endurance, how far the operation runs without people on site (docks, remote operations centers, detect-and-avoid), which approvals let it fly beyond visual line of sight, and who actually flies it.
| Model | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wingcopter 198 (Wingcopter) | hybrid VTOL | in production |
| MK30 (Amazon Prime Air) | hybrid VTOL | in service |
| Ark 40 (Fengyi Technology (SF Express)) | multirotor | in service |
| Sky2 (Flytrex) | multirotor | in service |
| M2 (Matternet) | multirotor | in service |
| Fourth-generation delivery drone (Meituan) | multirotor | in service |
| Wing delivery aircraft (standard and large-payload) (Wing (Alphabet)) | hybrid VTOL | in service |
| Platform 2 (P2 Zip) (Zipline) | hybrid VTOL | in service |
Sources
Sources and scope
- Scope
- Platform 1 (P1 Zip) (Zipline)
- Sources
- ElectronsX drones dataset; maker specifications, operator releases and FAA, EASA and CAAC approvals
- Updated
- 2026-10