Move over mushers and planes, drones to deliver emergency supplies - Alaska Public Media

A team of unmanned aerial vehicle experts led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks is working on delivering emergency medical supplies and, maybe later, cargo across Alaska with drones. UAF recently announced an upcoming test to fly a package across Turnagain Arm from Indian to Hope, and while that package -- a three-pound box of Q-tips, actually -- is only one step toward those goals, it could eventually lead to major changes for Alaska communities off the road system. Cathy Cahill, director of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, spoke with Alaska Public Media's Casey Grove about the test and the center's work. Grove: Alaska has this kind of amazing history of delivering medical supplies in emergencies, you know, 1925, dog mushers running diphtheria serum to Nome, that kind of thing. So this idea seems kind of obvious, and not to be rude, but drones have been around for a while, why aren't we already doing this?