New Freight Service Up and Away

 

Merlin Labs commenced their air freight operation last evening when Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster ZK-MLO flew from Kerikeri's Bay of Islands' Airport to Palmerston North. 

An article in the Northern Advocate on the 26th of June had reported that Merlin has signed a deal with Freightways businesses Fieldair, Parceline and New Zealand Couriers to deliver the cargoes. The first flight will be on Thursday, when the companies will deliver domestic courier items from the Boston-based tech firm’s NZ outpost of Kerikeri to Auckland and through to Palmerston North in an increasingly autonomous capacity. At first, two pilots will continue to supervise the trips while the Merlin team integrates its software and hardware into the Cessna fleet on-site. Freightways trucks and couriers will then pick up the cargo and integrate the items into the nationwide courier network, creating efficiencies and another option for congestion or emergencies on the road that will support the current team to meet service standards in New Zealand. 

For the full article see : https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/kerikeri-robot-plane-company-signs-deal-to-delver-cargo-from-its-unmanned-flights/ZAFWFMTLGBGXRBQ4ADHNYL3IFQ/

The Cargomaster then positioned to Paraparaumu where Jordan Elvy captured it this morning. Today the aircraft has been doing some developmental flying between Paraparaumu and Palmerston North and return.

Merlin Lab's Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster ZK-MLO at Paraparaumu on 30 June 2023