Pablo Aviation is pioneering the establishment of drone delivery infrastructure in Mongolia as the first South Korean company to do so.
On the 28th, Pablo Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding with Blue Moon Group and Ninano Company to facilitate drone delivery in downtown Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Blue Moon Group operates nine subsidiaries in Mongolia and is involved in a wide range of sectors, including food and beverage, retail, distribution, and real estate.
As of 2021, the population of Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, is about 1.61 million, accounting for approximately 47.3% of the country’s population. The city experiences severe traffic congestion due to a high population density and a car-centric transportation system. Pablo Aviation and Blue Moon are optimistic that by using drones for rapid delivery during peak traffic times, they can significantly alleviate the inconveniences faced by citizens.
Pablo Aviation conducted a demonstration flight on the 27th as the first step toward obtaining special flight approval in Mongolia. Government officials, including those from the Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia, attended the event. The drone successfully flew a distance of about 7 km in just 12 minutes, proving the speed and convenience of drone delivery.
Kim Young-jun, CEO of Pablo Aviation, stated, “We plan to systematically build drone delivery infrastructure within Ulaanbaatar, including ▲ Drone Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities ▲ drone stations for flight preparation ▲ and take-off and landing sites for product delivery.” He added, “This is the first opportunity to validate the potential of ‘quick commerce’ through drones in urban areas, which could also be a significant business applicable to domestic logistics operations.”
Meanwhile, Pablo Aviation has been at the forefront of commercializing drone delivery in South Korea, executing pilot projects under the regulatory sandbox sponsored by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, conducting tests for discovering air routes for the K-Drone system, and opening the country’s first convenience store drone delivery station last year. They are establishing a service management system and securing specialized safety standards to provide safe services based on their operational experience with drone delivery.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr