Drones in Action End User Stories:
Traditional inspections of live flare stacks offshore require shutting down operations which can cost up to £4 million per day and are hazardous due to extreme heights and heat.
Drones are now being employed by companies for offshore inspections, enabling pilots to operate safely from shore while drones perform complex data collection tasks over the sea.
Drones in Energy, Utility & Infrastructure Inspection
15 April 2025
Drones in Action End User Stories:
Emergency Response – 86 Lives Saved from Drone Enhanced Missions
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is integrating drones into search and rescue missions, enhancing emergency response capabilities. Traditional methods can be slow or limited in certain conditions, particularly in remote or hazardous areas.
By using drones equipped with thermal sensors and BVLOS capabilities, MCA has saved 86 lives with drone enhanced missions and improved operational efficiency, reducing reliance on costly alternatives.
This approach also contributes to over £50 million in annual savings while reducing risks for rescue teams.
Read more on Drones in Emergency Services & Blue Lights
8 April 2025
ARPAS-UK Member, AutoSpray Systems is proud to announce that they have obtained an Operational Authorisation from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) (received on 11th March 2025) to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations in an Atypical Air Environment (AAE). This milestone marks a significant advancement in agricultural drone applications, unlocking new commercial opportunities across multiple sectors.
With this approval, AutoSpray Systems is authorised to operate their 120kg agricultural drone for spraying liquids and spreading granules across agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and many other use cases. Unlike previous restrictions that limited operations to within 500m of the remote pilot, this BVLOS AAE approval allows them to operate without distance limitations, subject to location-specific risk assessment.
Andy Sproson, Director of AutoSpray Systems stated-
“Historically, our low-level drone operations were restricted by distance regulations, limiting their full potential. With BVLOS approval, we can now reach even more remote and inaccessible areas, making a profound impact in sectors such as:
This authorisation significantly expands their ability to scale sustainable land management solutions, reinforcing our commitment to innovation in aerial agriculture.”
Achieving BVLOS approval is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of multiple industry and academic experts. We extend our sincere gratitude to the SEAD Artists:
Who are SEAD Artists? This is a consortium of organisations and individuals with the sole aim to become a singular voice and point of contact for the agriculture and environmental industry when they are looking to interact with drones and new technology – speaking with one voice.
It is an initiative that supports an evidence-based data approach to facilitate environment and agriculture which will be as inclusive of all users and operators, and representative bodies as is reasonably possible.
A special thanks also to the RPAS team at the CAA and all other colleagues involved in shaping the BVLOS AAE policy whosesupport has been instrumental in achieving this milestone.
Additional information will be released in due course and AutoSpray Systems will be hosting an open day, conducting live demonstration flights week on Monday 28th April 2025, in the Greater Manchester Area.
If you would like to attend, please contact AutoSpray Systems on the contact details below.
For further information, please contact: Andy Sproson
Director, AutoSpray Systems Ltd on [email protected]
20 March 2025
Read more:
The Westcott Drone Test and Development Centre (DTDC), launched in 2023 by the Satellite Applications Catapult, is undergoing a significant upgrade to enhance its capacity and capabilities.
These improvements will enable drone companies to test their products and solutions at earlier stages of development within a safe and controlled environment.
Backed by £1.4 million in funding from the Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – now managed by the Buckinghamshire Growth Board – the upgrades will allow the DTDC to support a wider range of drone companies and accelerate the market readiness of innovative solutions.
The expansion reflects the increasing demand for drone operations, supporting both UK and global flight operations. As part of Westcott’s commitment to innovation, the DTDC aims to develop world-class drone services and reinforce Buckinghamshire’s position as a leader in drone and space technology.
Key Facility Upgrades Include
Drone cage flight enclosure
Tethered drone testing area
Multipurpose drone platform
Expanded workshop spaces
Sensor test ranges
Drone Training Academy
Buckinghamshire Council Leader Martin Tett highlighted the centre’s role in shaping the future of private and commercial aviation, reinforcing the county’s position as a global hub for drone technology. Richard Lowe, Chief Technology Officer of Satellite Applications Catapult, emphasised that the upgrades would provide additional support for companies developing next-generation drone technology, particularly in safe testing environments.
Located on a former RAF base, the DTDC offers a 270m runway, four landing pads for vertical, or vertical to horizontal take-off, and multiple real-world flying areas. Future developments include the integration of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) capabilities, further advancing the UK’s drone ecosystem.
Read more here on DTDC’s news here
Read more Member Success Stories & Blogs
28 February 2025
Highlighting the criticality of developing Non-Technical Skills (NTS), that is Human Factors and Crew Resource Management, for uncrewed teams and operators. Uncovering why the requirement for optimised NTS within the uncrewed sphere is not only as vital as for crewed flight, but also introduces new demands, not experienced in the traditional cockpit environment. Join us for this webinar with Chris Davies and Grant Meekey of Volaria Performance.
Who is this webinar for? RAEs, the Defence Sector, Companies interested in or already operating BVLOS, and Larger Drone Service Operating Companies with Teams of Pilots. It still remains beneficial for all drone service operating companies to attend.
Speaker Bios:
Chris Davies, Director, Volaria Performance.
Chris is an experienced military and civilian aviator and leader within both Rotary- and Fixed-Wing environments. A specialist in the field of HF/CRM, he also has extensive experience within the uncrewed sector and is thus uniquely placed to assist teams in navigating the increasingly demanding challenges faced in such operations.
Grant Meekey, Director, Volaria Performance.
Grant is an accomplished multi-aircraft and multi-crew position aviator, with over 34 years of aerospace experience, both Rotary- and Fixed-wing. Highly qualified and accomplished in HF/CRM training delivery, he is also the Chair of a major Human Factors Training Advisory Panel in the UK.
For more webinars on various topics and to watch again
For further Human Factors related webinars:
For more on CHIRP (Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme) for UAS
17 February 2025
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.
Recommendations:
Read further Drone Industry Reports
17 February 2025
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) releases their latest CAA Future of Flight update this month, providing a PDRA-01 update and highlighting key milestones for 2024.
Topics include:
Read the full CAA’s Future of Flight update below.
20 January 2025
ARPAS-UK member heliguy™ has been granted Operational Authorisation by the CAA (UK Civil Aviation Authority) to perform BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone-in-a-box missions, in atypical air environments, using the DJI Dock ecosystem.
heliguy™ plans to use the authorisation as a framework for delivering automated and remote solutions for enterprise organisations. The approval enables the heliguy™ team to use both the DJI Dock 2 and the original DJI Dock, in non-segregated airspace.
Missions will be managed by their pilot team, either from the Remote Operations Control Centre (ROCC) at their headquarters or via the their Drone Command Unit.
This authorisation was awarded following successful BVLOS flights conducted at Komatsu’s Smart Construction facility in northern England.
19 December 2024
