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With Unprecedented Authorization from ANAC, the Resumption of Drone Deliveries Optimizes 36 Km Route and Redefines Logistics in the Capital of Sergipe, Connecting Shopping to a Neighboring Municipality in Seconds.
iFood has officially resumed its drone delivery operation in Aracaju (SE), transforming a route that would take up to one hour by land into a flight of less than a minute. The initiative, developed in partnership with the engineering company Speedbird Aero, optimizes a journey of 36 kilometers (round trip) that crosses the Sergipe River, connecting the RioMar Shopping in the capital to the municipality of Barra dos Coqueiros. The information, detailed by the portal InfoMoney, marks a new chapter in Brazilian logistics.
The impact of the technology is direct on efficiency: the drone covers the most complex part of the route, allowing partner deliverers to handle only the “last mile”, that is, the final and shortest stretch to the customer’s home. The operation, which started as a pilot project in 2021, now operates with a permanent authorization from the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), a regulatory milestone that paves the way for the expansion of similar services throughout the country.
How the Air Route That Challenges Traffic Works?
iFood’s multimodal operation was designed to solve a specific logistical bottleneck in Aracaju. The route between the RioMar Shopping and Barra dos Coqueiros, although geographically close, is time-consuming by land due to the need to detour around the river. With the technology, the order is dispatched from the shopping center and flies less than four kilometers in a straight line, a journey that, according to InfoMoney, takes less than 60 seconds. The drone lands at a collection point (“droneport”), where a deliverer is already positioned to pick up the package and complete the delivery in just a few minutes.
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This approach optimizes the time of everyone involved. “iFood is multimodal: it combines bicycles, motorcycles, cars, boats, robots, and now also drones to connect a complex delivery ecosystem with precision,” explained Rodolfo Klautau, Logistics Director at iFood, in a statement to InfoMoney. He emphasizes that the drone is designed to solve stretches that make no sense for the deliverer, who, in turn, “continues to be allocated to more productive routes.” Thus, the technology does not replace human labor, but makes it more strategic and profitable.
The Technology Behind the Flight: Safety and Expanded Capacity
In this new phase of the operation, the technology embedded in the drones is more robust. The aircraft now has the capacity to transport loads of up to 5 kilograms, a significant increase from the previous limit of 3 kilograms. The equipment flies at a speed of 50 km/h and at an altitude of up to 60 meters, equivalent to a 20-story building, being operated remotely by a Speedbird Aero control center located in Franca (SP), thousands of kilometers away.
Safety is a central pillar of the project. The drone is designed to withstand winds of up to 55 km/h and light rain, ensuring the continuity of operations under varying weather conditions. Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with an emergency parachute that is automatically activated in case of failure, ensuring a controlled descent. The current operational capacity is 280 orders per day, with daily operation for ten hours, seven days a week, demonstrating that the system is already prepared for real and constant demand.
The Regulatory Landmark of ANAC: What Does Permanent Authorization Mean?
The significant differential of this project is the regulatory validation. Speedbird Aero, a partner of iFood, is the only company in Brazil to obtain ANAC approval for two models of drones intended for BVLOS (the English acronym for “Beyond Visual Line of Sight”) operation. This type of authorization, which took between 12 and 24 months to be granted, is essential for long-distance flights over populated areas, as is the case in Aracaju. The authorization is permanent and represents a breakthrough for the entire air mobility industry.
“The resumption and expansion of the project in Aracaju is a milestone not only for iFood and Speedbird but for the entire air mobility sector in Brazil,” stated Manoel Coelho, CEO of Speedbird Aero, in a statement released by InfoMoney. It is the first permanent authorization from ANAC for flights over areas with pedestrian traffic, a crucial step for consolidating drone deliveries as a viable and safe logistics modality in the country, setting precedents for expansion in other Brazilian cities.
The resumption of drone deliveries in Aracaju by iFood transcends mere technological innovation. It represents the consolidation of a new logistical model, where the collaboration between autonomous technology and human deliverers generates more efficiency, speed, and intelligence for the ecosystem. With the permanent approval from ANAC, Brazil positions itself at the forefront of urban air mobility in South America, showing that the future of deliveries has already begun.
Do you agree with this change? Do you think it impacts the market? Leave your opinion in the comments, we want to hear from those who experience this in practice.
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