Zipline has begun safety tests on its high-performance drones in readiness for the opening of the third and fourth distribution centres.

Since launching in Ghana, Zipline has safely delivered over 20,000 units of blood, vaccines and critical medicines to patients in need at more than 350 health facilities over the course of more than 4,000 flights from its distribution centres in Omenako and Mpanya, a statement said on Friday, 7 January 2020.

Over the next four months, Zipline, according to the statement, would be opening its third and fourth distribution centres at Vobsi in the North-East Region and Sefwi Wiaso in the Western Region as it expands to serve close to 2,000 health facilities.

According to Zipline, a key part of what will allow it to make that expansion possible and serve even more patients in need across the country, is deploying a brand-new generation of drones, which fly further, faster and can carry more medicine.

Over the next several weeks, Zipline would be testing the flight safety features of the new drone, which includes the parachute landing system, before the aircraft enters full service.

On Thursday, 6 February 2020, Zipline conducted a successful test from the Mpanya centre.

The parachute-landing feature allows the plane to safely land in the event of unexpected bad weather, or emergency requests from air traffic control.