The UK Civil Aviation Authority has chosen six projects to trial drones for deliveries, infrastructure inspections, emergency services, and flights to remote areas.
The regulator has selected trials to safely test flying drones beyond the operator’s visual line of sight (BVLOS) in UK airspace, bringing this important capability closer to becoming a regular part of drone operations.
BVLOS flights allow drones to operate beyond the pilot’s line of sight, using advanced technology for navigation, control, and detecting other aircraft.
Why does this matter? This could lead to significant improvements in various sectors, including faster and more efficient deliveries, better infrastructure inspections, and enhanced emergency response, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
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Amazon forms part of drone trial
Amazon’s drone mission dates back to 2022. It has shown the world that making deliveries in less than 60 minutes is possible, thanks to a drone in the sky.
Now, the company is part of this latest trial. Here are six projects taking part in the trials:
- Amazon Prime Air; (consumer drone deliveries).
- Airspection; (inspecting offshore wind farms).
- National Police Air Service; (NPAS) (exploring uncrewed aircraft use in policing).
- NATS; (BVLOS inspections over the North Sea).
- Project SATE; (Sustainable Aviation Test Environment) (flights to Orkney).
- Project Lifeline; (medical deliveries).
Why are these trials important? They will collect crucial safety information, like how drones detect and avoid other aircraft and how they communicate with air traffic control.
This data will help the UK Civil Aviation Authority develop policies and regulations to ensure drones can safely share the skies with other airspace users.
Real-world use
The UK Civil Aviation Authority invited organizations to join an innovation sandbox to test and refine their ideas for BVLOS drone capabilities.
These sandboxes are controlled environments where companies can develop their technology within the existing regulations. This helps ensure their innovations are ready for real-world use and allows the Civil Aviation Authority to update regulations to better support both new technologies and current users.
Choosing drones for delivery
There are several reasons drones are being used for delivery. The standout has to be the speed of delivery. Drones fly above ground and are not restricted by traffic.
Another factor is deliveries will not be hampered by the issue of labor shortages, and they may be in flight during a lunch hour when a person has to take breaks – the drone does not.
Drones are cost-effective. Imagine a courier fleet’s fuel bill at the end of each month. The drone does not travel on roads, so there is less wear and tear on the drone than a vehicle. Vehicles may also be stranded at a service center for a particular problem. Car repairs can be costly.
In addition, drones do not emit toxic fumes. Drones are able to travel above rough terrain and provide an aerial route straight to the destination.
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About the author
Sharl is a qualified journalist. He has over 10 years’ experience in the media industry, including positions as an editor of a magazine and Business Editor of a daily newspaper. Sharl also has experience in logistics specifically operations, where he worked with global food aid organisations distributing food into Africa. Sharl enjoys writing business stories and human interest pieces.
