BOSTON (WWLP) - Three companies tested their drones in Massachusetts to fly small packages to aid in the timely, cost-effective delivery of medical supplies. In a news release from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Aeronautics Division, medical delivery demonstrations took place between August and October 2024. This included transporting packages of up to 10 pounds using drones (Uncrewed Aircraft Systems), for the use of home-based healthcare and emergency medical response in the future.      The flight tests were deemed successful as the participants’ drones carried simulated payloads for at least one mile, one way.       Is that a drone or a plane? How to spot the differences In support of MassDOT, the aeronautics team currently uses its drones to improve transportation safety, such as infrastructure inspection and incident response in partnership with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).     “This medical delivery demonstration underscores the value of drones for many operational needs,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “Drones have already proven useful in operations, including MBTA track corridor inspections, MassDOT Highway bridge inspections, overhead project evaluations, and other needs. We continue to assess the use of drones for other purposes in the future.”      ”This demonstration project reflects our commitment to exploring the use of drones to meet critical needs, such as the timely, cost-effective delivery of supplies and devices for health care and emergency management, across the Commonwealth,” said MassDOT Aeronautics Acting Administrator Denise Garcia.       Local News Headlines Fundraiser at Jersey Mikes in Longmeadow supports Be Like Kat charity Three companies test drones over Massachusetts to deliver medical supplies New York man charged for defrauding elderly woman out of $480,000 Dog dies, seven without a home after multi-family home fire in Boston WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less