An Irish start-up is hoping to have the UK’s first food drone delivery pilot scheme operating in 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

with a fleet of specially designed 23kg quadcopters, manna Aero has carried out more than 200,000 food delivery flights in west Dublin, Espoo in Finland and Texas.

As the company aims to expand, its CEO Bobby Healy said the UK “would be our most crucial market in Europe. It’s by far the biggest delivery market today. We think our product maps really well onto the UK high street, notably”.

The company operates in west Dublin, Finland and Texas. Pic: Manna aero

A local group is protesting against the drones

“We’re actively in dialog with both the Civil aviation Authority (CAA) and with NATS (National air Traffic Services), the airspace manager for the contry. And we expect to be there next year,” mr Healy

Drone Deliveries: Residents Complain About ‘Intolerable’ Noise

Residents in Dublin are voicing concerns over the noise generated by drone deliveries conducted by Manna Aero,a company pioneering commercial drone delivery services. While manna Aero maintains its drones are quieter than typical urban sounds,locals describe the noise as “very,very bothersome” and “intolerable,” particularly during cargo release.

One resident, Michael, detailed the sound as “a very tonal, sharp, pulsing, intrusive noise” that is noticeable even from a distance. He found the noise when the drone hovers at its lowest height to deliver packages to be “intolerable.”

Manna Aero CEO Bobby Healy acknowledges the noise concerns but points to a Trinity College study indicating relatively low decibel levels, claiming the drones are less noisy than general urban background noise. He emphasized the company’s ongoing investment in new technology,including propulsion and propeller advancements,to further reduce noise.

Mr. Healy attributes the negative perception to the introduction of any disruptive technology, drawing parallels to initial reactions to cars, steam engines, AI, and 5G. He believes that, over time, the technology will become more accepted as people become accustomed to it.

Read more from Sky News:

* Nova festival survivor dies two years after girlfriend killed

* Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies after attack in prison