Beyond Sight Behind Barriers Report: Connected Places Catapult

The United Kingdom’s commercial drone industry, valued at £501 million in 2023, stands at a pivotal juncture. In this paper by Connected Places Catapult “Beyond Sight Behind Barriers”, the authors examine the current state of the UK Drone Industry and what might be holding it back from the next steps of growth. Despite its rapid growth and the nation’s rich aviation heritage, the sector faces significant challenges due to regulatory uncertainties, particularly concerning Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This ambiguity deters investment and hampers the integration of drones into the existing airspace framework. To harness the full economic potential and position the UK as a global leader in drone technology, immediate and decisive action is imperative. Establishing a dedicated task force with clear accountability, government representation, and targeted funding is essential to revitalize momentum and address existing regulatory gaps. Without such measures, the UK risks forfeiting substantial economic opportunities and ceding its competitive edge in the burgeoning global drone market.

This paper explores how the UK’s drone market design and regulation approach is missing key pieces of the puzzle: the current approach relies on many actors attempting to piece together the jigsaw without being able to visualise the final image displayed on the box. New leadership is desperately needed to reset the approach and configure a successful market, which the regulations can then support.

The paper measures the UK Drone Industry against other economic areas employing drones, examines drone traffic management technologies and focuses on the Skyway Case Study, before making concluding recommendations.