Skyports join 'beyond visual line of sight' UAV trials

The CAA’s Regulatory Sandbox was established in 2019 to create an environment where innovation in aviation can be explored in line with its core principles of safety, security and consumer protection.

Alex Brown, Head of Operations at Skyports, explained that BVLOS UAV deliveries are already happening globally through trials and in dedicated corridors that keep UAVs away from other airspace users.

“To achieve commercial operations at scale, particularly in more congested environments, delivery UAVs will need to be able to safely share the skies with other airspace users in non-segregated airspace, which our project in the CAA Regulatory Sandbox is aiming to achieve,” he said.

To this end the London-based cargo drone deliveries specialist will work with consortium partners Iris Automation, RSK and Thales on putting a long-range Wingcopter – a fixed wing/tilt-rotor aircraft – through the Sandbox project.

San-Francisco based Iris is providing its Casia computer-vision-based Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) technology, Thales its SOARIZON mission planning and flight management system plus Drone Connect Remote ID for UAV tracking, and RSK will apply its skills and expertise in environmental assessment.