Phuket prepares four drone and eVTOL routes to ease traffic and support emergency care

Phuket is preparing to pilot drones and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft on four proposed routes linking the airport area with Patong and BDMS Phuket, in a plan aimed at easing traffic, supporting emergency medical transfers and developing premium tourism services.

Provincial officials discussed the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) initiative with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), Aeronautical Radio of Thailand and other public- and private-sector organisations on 23 September 2026.

CAAT director Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon said the authority was promoting the use of drones and eVTOL aircraft for transport, medical-supply deliveries to remote patients and tourism. CAAT would also oversee regulation and safety, he said.

Drone cargo and medical-supply operations could begin once routes had been surveyed and assessments completed covering safety, risks and potential effects on third parties. CAAT would then be ready to consider approval, working with private operators and local residents, Manat said.

The provincial government has assigned the Phuket Provincial Office to prepare an implementation plan, assess critical routes and identify obstacles. A working group will also be formed before the proposal is submitted to the province’s public-private committee on economic issues.

A study by Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, which began in 2025, identifies a main base in northern Phuket at Saku Helipad, about 4.2 kilometres from Phuket International Airport. The site is connected to the airport by road in about nine minutes and has facilities suitable for aircraft storage and eVTOL operations.

The base is intended to operate as an airport feeder service, connecting passengers from commercial flights to destinations across the island while using roads 4031 and 4027 to avoid traffic in Phuket Town. The location is also outside the airport approach path, according to the study.

The four routes under consideration are direct and coastal alternatives between Saku Helipad and Patong Beach, and between Saku Helipad and BDMS Phuket. Officials said an AAM network could reduce noise and emissions, shorten transfers for critically ill patients and offer a premium tourism experience.

Phuket Governor Chotinarin Kerdsom said the technology could help address traffic congestion, strengthen links between local industries and support year-round use of the province’s production base. Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation president Rewat Areerob said the organisation supported the initiative because it could improve safety for residents and visitors while supporting transport infrastructure, tourism, healthcare and disaster response.