The UK Civil Aviation Authority has announced the names of the projects that will take part in new trials for the use of drones in everyday life, including the inspection of remote energy infrastructures.
New Tests to Integrate Drones into Everyday Life
The UK is giving the green light (almost) for the first trials aimed at safely integrating drones flying beyond the visual line of sight of their operator into British airspace. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s aviation regulatory body, has officially endorsed these trials, announcing the names of the selected projects. Six different initiatives will use remotely piloted aircraft for daily public utility tasks, such as the supervision and monitoring of wind turbines and power pylons.
One such project is Airspection, which aims to provide safe and reliable drones for monitoring remote infrastructures.
UK: Modernizing Airspace
This entire operation is part of a broader strategy to modernize airspace, published by the UK authority in January 2023 and updated this year. The strategy outlines a vision for the future of UK skies that aims to ensure faster, quieter, and cleaner travel.
The new tests will contribute to this important goal by gathering essential safety data. This includes how small aircraft detect and avoid other vehicles, as well as the electronic signals they can send to be visible to other airspace users and air traffic control.
This will enable the regulatory body to develop tailored policies and regulations for the full and safe integration of drones into UK skies.
“These innovative trials mark a significant step forward in the safe integration of drones into UK airspace,” said Sophie O’Sullivan, Director of the Future of Flight at the CAA. “By supporting projects that range from consumer deliveries to critical infrastructure inspections, we are gathering essential data to shape future policies and regulations.”
Drones for Inspecting Offshore Wind Turbines
Among the selected projects is Airspection, which focuses on using drones to inspect offshore wind turbines. “Access to offshore wind turbines is currently a major challenge for the industry,” states the CAA’s press release. “Supported by a leading global offshore wind developer, this project aims to develop scalable Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations for offshore wind farms to improve safety, reliability, and environmental impact.”
The trial will be conducted in a controlled environment, specifically at an operational offshore wind farm. This project will serve as a foundation for remote drone services in this sector, reducing the need for vessels, cutting carbon emissions, and supporting the expansion of the UK’s offshore energy sector.
Other initiatives will use drones for emergency medical services, such as delivering essential medical equipment like defibrillators (AEDs), EPI pens, and anti-hemorrhage kits, police activities, and commercial deliveries. It’s important to note that further authorizations will be required before the trials can begin.
