From windfarms to Amazon Prime, UK plans to long range test six drone services

The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved six new trials to test the use of drones in deliveries, inspections and emergency services, including one from e-commerce megabiz Amazon.

"The regulator has chosen the trials to take place that will help safely integrate drones flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) of their operator into UK airspace, helping to make this vital extension to drone flying an everyday reality," explained the CAA.

Drone local policy currently requires drones do not fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) for the operator, unless as a part of a trial. Longer operating flights and missions of this nature require advanced technologies for navigation, control and detection of other aircraft.

CAA detailed that the trials will gather data on how drones detect each other and avoid collisions. The results will help the regulator better develop policy and regulations to integrate the devices into air traffic.

The six approved entities involved in the trial applied and were selected for a part in the "BVLOS sandbox," which is a collaboration with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Further permissions will be needed before the trials begin.

"These have the potential to transform how we deliver goods and provide services, particularly in less well-connected regions. These new sandbox projects are a great step towards realising these ambitions," said Simon Masters, a director at UKRI.

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Among those involved in the trial are the previously mentioned Amazon Prime Air, which will use the drones to deliver small packages to customers in less than an hour.

Amazon Prime Air received approval for BVLOS in the USA from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company told The Reg in May it has already made thousands of deliveries via drones.

Last October it revealed a new drone design and detailed how it was planning to begin delivering packages using drones in Britain, Italy and a third US location. Its drone delivery services had already been in use in College Station, Texas and Lockeford, California.

Veep at Amazon Prime Air David Carbon called it "crucial" for operators to have clear regulatory requirements before bringing and scaling new technologies like drone delivery to UK customers.

The project does more than explore how shoppers get their packages delivered – it's also running pilots that include working with an unnamed “offshore wind developer” to service turbines, and another trial is planned with the National Police Air Service for flying uncrewed policing aircraft.

UK-based air navigation service provider NATS, formerly National Air Traffic Services, is in a trial to complete BVLOS inspections over the North Sea through a consortium, Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE). It will develop what it has named the Trial Orkney Test Zone to test integrated manned and unmanned aircraft operations from Kirkwall Airport.

SATE detailed that its trials would be led by the producers of an autonomous cargo drone named ULTRA that can carry 100 kg up to 1,000 km.

And lastly, an emergency supply providing initiative dubbed Project Lifeline is trialling the drones for dropping off medical equipment like defibrillators, EPI pens and anti-bleeding kits. The drones in this trial will be enhanced with live camera feeds so first responders can assess and interact with those in medical need. ®