Green light from CAA for long-range drones to fly across UK’s CNI

This is the first time that long distance approved BVLOS drones in non-segregated airspace have been given the green light to fly over the UK’s CNI and duly places the UK at the forefront of drone innovation.

Initially, this development will enable long-range drones to patrol over the UK’s rail networks. It marks an important step towards enabling more complex BVLOS operations across other areas of the CNI, with potential applications in sectors such as energy, the utilities, defence, border management and sensitive national infrastructure surveillance.

The approval was possible as a result of Network Rail enabling and funding this groundbreaking work and now paves the way for possible imminent trials of the technology on a critical 12 km route between Wolverhampton Station and Sandwell and Dudley Station in partnership with Network Rail. The trials have the potential to vastly improve the safety, speed and efficiency of the UK’s railway service, while also delivering many millions of pounds in savings each year.

Testing of the project would demonstrate the potential to safely and reliably deploy drones at scale over CNI. In partnership with Network Rail, Drone Major’s technology has already been tested along the rail corridor South East of Wolverhampton Station and the Severn Valley Railway lines, presenting an opportunity to significantly speed up the verification and interception of trespassers, thereby reducing delays to trains in a critical and very busy area, while potentially also saving lives.

‘Safety corridor’ 

Flying over railways, these drones will operate in a carefully defined ‘safety corridor’, much like aeroplanes, using Drone Major’s advanced Digital Tethering concept to assure the safety of the aircraft’s flight behaviour, in turn significantly minimising risks to those on the ground.

The drones are able to monitor the UK’s railways, transmitting visual data in real-time to operators and providing vital detection and monitoring of any trespassers.

The Digital Tethering system employs a range of world-leading onboard navigation and safety systems as well as innovative ground-based technology, together delivering a cutting-edge capability for the project and enabling reliable autonomous navigation, providing real-time and precise position of the drones, particularly so in areas along the railway where GPS/GNSS signals are unstable or inaccessible.

Digital Tethering has been designed to significantly improve safety and increase the efficiency of UAS operations during monitoring and inspection tasks. As a leading advisor on the use of drones in CNI, Drone Major plans to run additional trials with more CNI organisations in the near future.

Everyday reality

Sophie O’Sullivan, director of the ‘Future of Flight’ at the Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We’re working with companies to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality, contributing to the modernisation of UK airspace and enabling new technology in our skies. By supporting projects ranging from CNI inspections through to consumer deliveries, we’re gathering essential data to shape future policies and regulations and support the growth of the aerospace industry.”

Robert Garbett, founder and CEO of the Drone Major Group, responded: “The Civil Aviation Authority’s approval of Operational Authority for trials of BVLOS flights marks a landmark moment for the drone industry. This opens up new opportunities to unlock and transform the UK’s CNi, notably so in densely built environments where traditional methods often fall short. It sets a new benchmark for safety and efficiency, positioning the UK as a world leader in drone innovation, while at the same time unlocking innovation to support UK plc.”

*Further information is available online at https://dronemajor.net