How it began
On June 29, 2017, the Government of Malawi and UNICEF launched an air corridor for testing the humanitarian use of unmanned aerial vehicles. UNICEF described it as the first in Africa and one of the first in the world with a focus on humanitarian and development use. It was centered on Kasungu Aerodrome in central Malawi. The plan had been announced in December 2016, and the airspace details were set with the Malawi Department of Civil Aviation in line with a new national regulatory framework.
Before it existed
The corridor followed a pilot project in Malawi in March 2016 on whether drones could carry dried blood samples for early infant diagnosis of HIV, which found them a viable addition to existing transport. Malawi has limited road access to rural areas, and after flash floods earth roads can become impassable. Between February and April 2017 UNICEF flew drones over Salima, Lilongwe and Karonga to help the government assess flood damage.
How it works
The corridor covered a circle with a 40 kilometer radius around the aerodrome, giving a maximum flight distance of 80 kilometers, with an altitude limit of 400 meters above ground. Within it, approved users could fly beyond the usual limits to test three kinds of use: aerial imagery for emergencies, extending mobile or internet connectivity, and transport of small supplies such as medical samples and vaccines. All projects had to follow UNICEF innovation principles, including open source and open data.
What changed first
By the launch, 12 companies, universities and organizations from around the world had applied to use the corridor. Demonstrations at the opening included connectivity, transport and imagery flights by firms from Sweden, Greece and Malawi. The Malawian transport minister said the country had already used drones in flood response and saw potential for carrying medical supplies to remote communities.
Where it stands today
UNICEF presented the corridor as a controlled place where global companies could work with Malawian engineers, students and aviation experts to test, build and document drone use. The agency noted at the launch that drone technology was still at an early stage and that the corridor was planned to run for one to two years in the first instance.
