Flying Future Hospital

French company Flying Whales has designed a flying medical dispensary to serve people in remote areas.

The aircraft will be powered by hybrid electric energy and carry heavy loads and is set to take its first flight in 2024 in collaboration with engineering brand Ingerop and Siemens Smart Infrastructure. The vehicle will be 200 metres long with a diameter of 50 metres and will be filled with non-pressurised helium. It will also carry a reserve of water and a generator and will be lowered onto a flat surface using winches for use. There is potential for future versions of the aircraft to offer treatment and surgery.

The pandemic has normalised remote healthcare; from digital consultations to apps with expert information to the drone delivery of medical items, consumers are becoming comfortable with treating, testing and understanding medical conditions at home. Simultaneously, consumers are accustomed to having products transported to their doorstep quickly, from fresh food to medicine to groceries, which has influenced their expectations regarding a brand’s delivery options. Remote and rural locations can sometimes miss out on these innovations, which has led to technology including robots and cashier-less stores being utilised to serve consumers located in these areas.

Hospitals and health centres as well as hairdressers, beauty and banking services, operated by either professionals or robotic technology, will begin to be implemented in remote areas and cities. These will enable consumers to access services nearby their homes and offer them alternatives to online systems.