SALALAH: The second phase of the 'Sky Bridge' initiative, which utilises unmanned aerial vehicles to transport medical supplies and equipment to the Al Halaniyat Islands, was launched on Wednesday from Dhofar Governorate.
The event was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar, and was attended by a number of officials and representatives of government entities and private sector institutions in the governorate.
The initiative forms part of the activities of the Gulf Green Mobility Forum, organised by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, under the supervision and follow-up of the Civil Aviation Authority, and in coordination with the Air Navigation Department of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in the Governorate and the Aviation Safety Department of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Regulation.
The mission is being executed using the 'Sahm' (Arrow) drone, capable of carrying approximately 150 kg of medical supplies and equipment, covering the distance from Salalah to the Al Halaniyat Islands at a speed exceeding 120 km per hour and at an altitude of up to 2,000 metres.
The initiative aims to test and apply drone-based air cargo technologies and to explore their potential in transporting supplies to remote areas, thereby contributing to enhancing the efficiency of transport and logistics systems and addressing challenges associated with distance and geographical terrain. The initiative aligns with the strategic approaches of Oman Vision 2040 in supporting innovation, localising modern technologies, and developing national capacities in knowledge- and technology-based sectors.
The mission is being executed entirely by the Ibn Firnas Center for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, with an Omani team overseeing all stages of the operational process, from planning, preparation, and load handling, through to drone operation, flight monitoring, safety procedures, and operations management. The team has undergone training and qualification programmes in the operation of cargo drones, covering navigation, load management, interaction with aviation systems, and emergency response and safety protocols.
The deployment of national competencies in this mission reflects a strategic commitment to building Omani capabilities in the field of drone and air cargo technologies, while enhancing the readiness of national personnel to manage advanced air transport systems.
The second phase of the 'Sky Bridge' initiative represents an applied experiment in utilising drones for supply transport, assessing their potential to support medical and logistics services, respond to emergency situations, and serve areas that are difficult to access through conventional transportation means.
The experiment also contributes to testing an integrated drone-based air cargo system encompassing operations, navigation, load management, and safety, thereby providing practical indicators regarding the potential expansion of these technologies across various sectors.
The first phase of the 'Sky Bridge' initiative involved the dispatch of an aerial shipment of medicines and medical supplies weighing 100 kg, covering a distance of nearly 100 km from the Military Technical College to Al Jabal Al Akhdhar. The drone, which was fully assembled in the Sultanate of Oman and features operational capabilities for navigating challenging mountainous terrain and valleys, successfully demonstrated its practical capacity to establish a rapid and secure supply line to remote areas. — ONA
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