Drone delivery

SAM IS ....
GEO Business 2025: Network, Exhibit & Speak at the UK’s Geospatial Event – 4-5 June

Mark your calendars! GEO Business 2025 is returning on 4-5 June 2025 at ExCeL London, bringing together 4300+ visitors and professionals from across the geospatial sector. This key industry event is an opportunity to explore the latest innovations, engage with sector leaders, and gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of geospatial technology and services.

With a strong focus on practical applications and real-world case studies, GEO Business provides an excellent platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and business development.

Come Say ‘Hello’ at Stand G90 – It’ll be great to see you!

ARPAS-UK will be at Stand G90 this year, where we’ll be on hand to discuss our work supporting the commercial drone industry. We welcome members, partners, and professionals to visit us, learn more about our work, and explore how we can collaborate to help advance the industry.

Why Attend GEO Business 2025?

GEO Business is more than just an event – it’s a focal point for professionals working with geospatial data, technology, and solutions. Whether you’re attending, speaking, or exhibiting, this is an opportunity to stay informed, make connections, and position yourself at the forefront of industry advancements.

Register for your event ticket: GEO Business 2025

Speak at GEO Business 2025?


How about speaking at this year’s GEO Business? We’re encouraging our members to apply to take part. This is a great opportunity to share knowledge, showcase innovations, gain further exposure of your work and engage with a wider professional audience.

Speaking proposals must be submitted by 28 February – for a list of Topics of Interest and to submit your proposal, click here to read more on Speaking at GEO Business

Thinking About Exhibiting?

For businesses looking to expand their reach, exhibiting at GEO Business offers direct access to industry leaders, potential clients, and key decision-makers. This is a great way to highlight your products and services to an engaged audience.

Find out more about exhibiting here: Exhibit at GEO Business

We look forward to seeing you there!

Find out about more Trade Shows & Events taking place this year
See Our 2025 list here – Members Only Access

SAM IS ....
Saudi Arabian AI & Drone Exhibition Forum

ARPAS-UK is thrilled to announce a ground-breaking partnership with SAADEF, the Saudi Arabian AI & Drone Exhibition Forum, taking place from the 4th-6th of November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This collaboration signifies an incredible opportunity for ARPAS-UK to extend its reach into the Middle East, a region poised for rapid expansion in drone technology and AI applications. Representing the UK drone industry, Mohammed Hasan will lead the ARPAS-UK delegation at the exhibition, showcasing the innovation and expertise of our members to a global audience.

For ARPAS-UK Members:
This partnership provides unparalleled exposure to a booming international market, allowing members to gain visibility among Middle Eastern stakeholders, government bodies, and private enterprises with interests in drones, AI, and advanced air mobility. Through this event, ARPAS-UK aims to create new avenues for collaboration, sharing knowledge, and aligning with emerging global standards.

Networking and Expansion Opportunities:
As members of ARPAS-UK, this collaboration offers you a channel to explore partnerships beyond UK borders, fostering cross-cultural exchanges and promoting your work on an international platform. By joining our delegation, you have the chance to network with key players in the Saudi market and beyond, giving you insights into local demands, potential clients, and future prospects in a rapidly evolving region.

Invitation to Participate:
To maximise member representation, we invite all interested members to submit an A4 poster summarising your company’s services, recent projects, or drone innovations to [email protected]. These posters will be featured prominently at our stand, ensuring your work reaches an audience of global industry leaders and potential collaborators.

Get Involved in Shaping ARPAS-UK’s Middle East Strategy:
Beyond the exhibition, we are also compiling a list of member interests regarding the Middle Eastern market. If you have specific areas of interest, whether in direct partnerships, regional insights, or unique applications for drones and AI within the Middle East, please get in touch. Together, we aim to create a tailored approach that maximises the benefits of this partnership for all our members, paving the way for an annually revived collaboration with even greater potential in the future.

This partnership represents ARPAS-UK’s commitment to supporting our members as the drone industry expands globally. Join us as we seize the opportunity to foster growth, knowledge-sharing, and innovation on a global scale.

SAM IS ....
CAA announced the 6 new projects selected for BVLOS drone flight trials in the UK

Six projects have been selected for trials under a new UK Civil Aviation Authority scheme that will test drone use in deliveries, inspections of infrastructure, emergency services and flights to remote locations.

The regulator has chosen the trials to take place that will help safely integrate drones flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) of their operator into UK airspace, helping to make this vital extension to drone flying an everyday reality.

BVLOS flights will be carried out at distances beyond the flyer’s ability to see the drone. These flights use advanced technologies for navigation, control and to detect other aircraft.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has selected the projects, including:

  • Amazon Prime Air; (consumer drone deliveries)
  • Airspection; (inspecting offshore windfarms)
  • National Police Air Service; (NPAS) (exploring uncrewed aircraft use in policing)
  • NATS; (BVLOS inspections over the North Sea)
  • Project SATE; (Sustainable Aviation Test Environment) (flights to Orkney)
  • Project Lifeline; (medical deliveries)

The trials will gather key safety data, such as how drones detect and avoid other aircraft, the electronic signals they can send to be able to be visible to other airspace users and air traffic control.

This will support the regulator’s ongoing development of policy and regulations so that drone flights can be fully integrated with other airspace users.

Sophie O’Sullivan, Director of Future of Flight at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

“These innovative trials mark a significant step forward in integrating drones safely into UK airspace. By supporting projects ranging from consumer deliveries to critical infrastructure inspections, we are gathering essential data to shape future policies and regulations.

“Our goal is to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality, contributing to the modernisation of UK airspace and the incorporation of new technology into our skies.”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority invited organisations to bid to participate in an innovation sandbox to validate and test their concepts, supporting the development of BVLOS capabilities.

Innovation sandboxes are controlled environments where organisations can test and further develop their new technology against the regulatory framework, helping applicants maximise the readiness of their innovation, and also help the UK Civil Aviation Authority better evolve regulations to better support both innovators and existing users.

The BVLOS sandbox is part of a collaboration with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) that is supporting the creation of the aviation ecosystem needed to accelerate the introduction of advanced air mobility (AAM), drones, and electric sub-regional aircraft in the UK.

Simon Masters, Future Flight Challenge Deputy Director at UK Research and Innovation, said:

“The UKRI Future Flight challenge team are excited to be working in partnership with the UK Civil Aviation Authority, working together to accelerate the introduction of drone operations in the UK.

“These have the potential to transform how we deliver goods and provide services, particularly in less well-connected regions. These new sandbox projects are a great step towards realising these ambitions.”

The new trials will also help develop plans for how drones can be safely integrated with other airspace users, as part of the regulator’s wider Airspace Modernisation Strategy.

The projects included in the trial are:

Amazon Prime Air  

  • Prime Air is a delivery system from Amazon designed to safely get small packages to customers in less than an hour using drones.

Airspection

  • The Airspection – Scalable Offshore Wind Project aim to provide safe and reliable drone services for remote infrastructure. Accessing offshore wind turbines is currently a major challenge for the industry. Supported by a world leading offshore wind developer, this project aims to develop scalable Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations for offshore wind farms to enhance safety, reliability and environmental impact. The project will be trialled at an offshore wind farm and will serve as the foundation for remote drone services in this industry, reducing the need for vessels, minimising carbon emissions, and supporting the expansion of the UK offshore energy industry.

NPAS 

  • In 2021, the National Police Air Service established its Futures & Innovation Team. The team’s objectives were to investigate Beyond Visual Line of Sight capabilities and its potential adoption as part of a blended fleet.

    NPAS’s ambition is to fly an uncrewed aircraft, beyond visual line of sight, over a six month period, in an environment that is representative of where NPAS crewed aircraft would be tasked. It will look to test, and verify, not only the payload capabilities, which are identical to the performance of our crewed aircraft, but also validate the onboard DAA capabilities. This will allow NPAS to understand better what future air support capabilities it could adopt.

NATS 

  • NATS Services, aligned with the CAA’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy, is committed to working towards an airspace that’s safe and integrated for all users. In support of this ambition, we are delighted to be working with the CAA, Flylogix and wider partners to enable this pioneering project over the North Sea.
  • This is a chance for us to introduce and evaluate our early BVLOS approval services, something we hope will support and encourage the development of beyond visual line of sight drone operations across the UK.

Project SATE 

  • The Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) intends to develop a trial airspace test environment, the Trial Orkney Test Zone, and will test integrated manned and unmanned aircraft operations from Kirkwall Airport. The test zone will be specifically designed to enable a wide range of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platforms to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) trials and operations in unsegregated Class G airspace. It will demonstrate the feasibility of operating a drone Hub-and-Spoke route network within unsegregated airspace based on integrated operations from Kirkwall airport (the hub) to the Orkney Island Council airfields and other use cases located across the Orkney archipelago.  
  • Consortium partner Highland and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) will lead the project in conjunction with fellow partner Windracers.  HIAL has a wealth of experience in airspace management, air traffic service provision and airport operations and Windracers bring extensive experience having operated their medium-lift long range Ultra drone in BVLOS trials in diverse environments.

Project Lifeline  

  • The LifeLine project is key to using drones for emergency medical services, delivering critical medical equipment—such as defibrillators (AEDs), EPI pens, and anti-bleeding kits—faster than ever before. The project also enhances first responders’ effectiveness by providing live camera feeds, which significantly improve situational awareness and decision-making during emergencies.
  • The initiative is driven by the expertise of Air Ambulance Charity KSS, Everdrone, Altitude Angel, NATS, and London Gatwick Airport, each contributing to the advancement of drone technology and airspace integration. The Everdrone system, already successfully utilized in live operations across Sweden, now brings its proven life-saving capabilities to the UK through these crucial trials.
  • Read the CAA post HERE.
SAM IS ....
SkyLift announce the success of their most recent offshore heavy lift project with Ørsted

Over the course of just 10 flying days, SkyLift successfully delivered 5,460 kg of cargo to 94 wind turbines—an impressive 94 deliveries! In one day alone, they moved 1,150 kg of cargo. This achievement showcases the power of precision and teamwork.

The 70 kg drones – which have a wingspan of 2.6 m – can transport up to 100 kg of cargo and will help improve operational efficiency and safety while reducing carbon emissions from operating an offshore wind farm.

In this specific case, Orsted decided to update some critical evacuation and safety equipment in each of the wind turbines at the Dutch offshore wind farm. Normally, a vessel would sail from one wind turbine to the next, using several different cranes to lift each box to the top of the wind turbine. Instead, the drone simply flew back and forth from an offshore supply vessel directly to the top of the nacelle, allowing the company to update the equipment 10-15 times faster than normally.

This pioneering move marks a significant leap forward in operational efficiency and safety in the offshore wind industry.  The drone flight from the vessel to the turbine takes about four minutes per turbine, while the conventional approach without using drones can take approx. six hours. Taking vessel transport between the turbines and from-and-to shore into account, Ørsted has been able to complete the tasks at Borssele 10-15 times faster than normally.

Drones will reduce costs and time, improve operational safety and efficiency and will reduce carbon emissions due to fewer journeys by ship. This will all lead to further improve the commercial fundamentals of offshore wind for investors, governments, and corporations.

Read Moonrock’s interview with Harry Getliffe, COO of SkyLift.

Both SkyLift and Moonrock Drone Insurance are ARPAS-UK Members

21 August 2024

SAM IS ....
Royal Holloway University’s New £2.5M Omnidrome Research Facility: A Unique Opportunity

Royal Holloway University has made a significant leap forward in research and innovation with a £2.5 million investment into the Omnidrome Research & Innovation Centre. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for pioneering research and development in various advanced technological fields, focusing on unmanned autonomous systems (UAS/UAVs), robotics, artificial intelligence, and information security.

Omnidrome: Pioneering the Future

The Omnidrome at Royal Holloway University is poised to become a world-leading centre for research, innovation, education, and knowledge exchange, dedicated to the study and application of drones and autonomous vehicles. This new facility will address contemporary and future challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering an environment where cutting-edge research can thrive.

Research and Innovation at Omnidrome

The Omnidrome Research & Innovation Centre aims to support a broad range of research initiatives, including:

  • Robotics, AI, and Information Security: Focusing on the development and secure integration of autonomous systems.
  • Drone and Sensor Technology: Advancing the capabilities and applications of aerial, surface, and submersible drones.
  • Environmental Monitoring: Utilizing drone technology for geospatial analysis of environmental, ecological, and geological systems.
  • Law, Culture, Arts, and Humanities: Exploring the legal, cultural, and social implications of drone technology.

Building a Collaborative Community

The Omnidrome is dedicated to nurturing a diverse and multidisciplinary community of researchers, educators, technical staff, and students. The Centre will also build a robust network of academic and non-academic collaborators, including business, industry, government partners, and NGOs. This collaborative environment aims to:

  • Develop funding opportunities and promote impactful research.
  • Train staff and students in drone industry applications and software skills.
  • Support student research projects and geospatial data analysis.

Unique Features of Omnidrome

What sets the Omnidrome apart is its comprehensive approach to research and innovation:

  • Unrestricted Research Directions: Supporting all ideas and opportunities within the Omnidrome Innovation Network.
  • Multidisciplinary Expertise: Engaging academics from arts, humanities, science, and social sciences to address diverse research challenges.
  • Industry Partnerships: Directly addressing sector-specific challenges through innovative solutions and economic benefits.

Membership and Opportunities

The Omnidrome offers membership to an innovation network of academic and non-academic collaborators. Membership benefits include:

  • Direct networking opportunities with academic researchers and industry practitioners.
  • Discounts on access to the Omnidrome Training and Testing Facility and other resources.
  • Invitations to annual events, including a research and education conference and a networking and partnerships meeting.

Training and Testing Facilities

The Omnidrome provides state-of-the-art facilities for drone training, testing, and development:

  • Controlled Environment: A bespoke facility measuring 25m x 35m x 10m for safe and robust testing.
  • Training Areas: Dedicated spaces for visual line-of-sight flight training and sensor applications.
  • Technical Infrastructure: Access to high-capacity electrical power systems, drone support vehicles, and specialized equipment.

Join Us at the Omnidrome Innovation Networking Event

On behalf of Royal Holloway University, We are delighted to invite knowledge exchange professionals and industry brokers to the Omnidrome Innovation Networking Event on Tuesday, July 23, from 10.00 to 16.30 at the Royal Holloway University Campus in Egham. This event will feature expert talks, workshops, and opportunities to connect with peers in the field of drone and robotics technology.

For further information and to register, please contact [email protected].

Explore how our Omnidrome facilities could benefit your work and that of your stakeholders. Find out more at royalholloway.ac.uk/research/omnidrome.

SAM IS ....
GeoBusiness 2024: Celebrating Innovation with the Drone Theatre

ARPAS-UK is thrilled to announce its continued partnership with GeoBusiness for their landmark 10th anniversary event, taking place on June 5-6, 2024, at ExCeL London. This year promises to be the most exciting yet, with the introduction of the Drone Theatre, a dedicated space highlighting the pivotal role of drones in the geospatial industry.

The Drone Theatre: A Hub for Innovation

The Drone Theatre, curated in collaboration with ARPAS-UK, will be a focal point at GeoBusiness 2024. This dynamic stage will feature a series of talks and presentations that delve into the latest advancements in drone technology and its applications across various industries. Topics will range from regulatory updates and survey accuracy to beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations and the professional development of drone operators.

Experts from across the geospatial and drone industries will share their insights, making the Drone Theatre an essential destination for professionals eager to stay at the cutting edge of technology and best practices. Notable sessions will include case studies on integrating drones into surveying workflows and discussions on the future of BVLOS in geospatial applications.

Supporting the Drone Industry

The partnership between ARPAS-UK and GeoBusiness underscores a shared commitment to promoting the safe and effective use of drones. The Drone Theatre is designed not only to educate but also to inspire attendees about the potential of drones in various sectors, including construction, mapping, surveying, and environmental monitoring.

Through this collaboration, ARPAS-UK continues to support the growth and professionalization of the drone industry. By providing a platform for knowledge exchange and networking, the association helps ensure that its members are well-equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly evolving geospatial landscape.

Join Us at GeoBusiness 2024

GeoBusiness 2024 is free to attend and is open to all professionals interested in the geospatial field. With over 150 expert speakers and a diverse range of sessions across eight different stages, the event promises to offer invaluable insights and networking opportunities.

To register or learn more about the event, visit the GeoBusiness website and follow ARPAS-UK’s updates for the latest information on the Drone Theatre and other exciting developments.

We look forward to seeing you there and exploring the future of the geospatial industry together!

Date: 5-6 June 2024

Location: Excel, London

Find out who’s talking on The Drone & UAV Stage
SAM IS ....
Pioneering simulations pave the way for routine drone flights in the UK

The prospect of remotely piloted drones operating in and out of some of the UK’s busiest airports has taken a step closer to reality following a series of pioneering simulations by the air traffic management service, NATS.

The simulations, run at NATS’ head office in Hampshire, demonstrated how drones could be seamlessly integrated alongside other air traffic at a busy airport. This included drone operators filing flight plans, flying in and out of the airport and being safely deconflicted with other aircraft.

The leading work forms part of Project CAELUS, a UKRI industry collaboration of 16 partners including AGS Airports, University of Strathclyde, NATS and NHS Scotland, aiming to use drones to transport essential medical supplies throughout Scotland.

Drone-D0952a_Caelus_08032024

The project’s first test flight occurred at Glasgow Airport last year, with a drone flying to the nearby NHS Golden Jubilee hospital. The concept development and simulation work NATS has led on is essential to understanding how that one-off flight could be safely scaled up to include dozens of drones flying ‘Beyond Visual Line of Sight’ and delivering medicines and blood tests to patients across Scotland and potentially beyond.

The airspace integration was overseen by a new Airspace Manager function using new technology developed by NATS. As part of this proposed ‘concept of operations,’ direct voice communication between a drone operator and air traffic control would only be required by exception – including the kind of emergency scenario demonstrated during the simulations.

Richard Ellis, NATS New Airspace Users Director, said: “Everything we’re doing is striving towards enabling the seamless, safe integration of drones and other new airspace users into our skies. There is a lot of work still to do, including the development and approval of new technology and regulations, but I believe what we and our Project CAELUS partners are doing will help support that process and is taking us a step closer to an exciting future.”

Fiona Smith, AGS Airports Group Head of Aerodrome Strategy and Project CAELUS Director, said: “We have continued to see some valuable collaboration and innovation across Project CAELUS and this latest work led by NATS truly demonstrates our ambition to forge a new path.”

“Our first live flight trial last year was incredibly important and demonstrated a means of integrating drones into an airport environment.”

“This year, we look forward to showcasing many more demonstrations including a ramped up flying programme across Scotland and we are delighted to kick start that programme with this exciting NATS showcase”.

Hazel Dempsey, Caelus National Programme Manager from NHS Grampian added: “Exploring how drone technology could be usefully used as a way of delivering care to people who live in urban, remote, rural and island locations, is edging ever-closer to a reality.”

Project Caelus is a Future Flight Challenge programme jointly funded by UK Research and Innovation. Further test flights are planned for later this year.

SAM IS ....
Responses to Consultations 27/02/2024

In this enlightening interview, Elena Major, Head of Operations at ARPAS-UK, talks with CEO Anne-Lise Scaillierez about the recent drone regulation consultation, focusing on key takeaways like the CAA’s DISCO initiative for digitalisation, the SORA safety methodology, and the integration of CAP-722 for Unmanned Aircraft System operations. This discussion delves into the future of drone technology, emphasising innovation, safety, and the impact of regulatory changes on the industry. Tune in to hear from leading voices in the UK’s drone sector as they navigate these transformative developments.

SAM IS ....
CAA launches AI survey

The aviation industry continues to embrace the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It already enhances safety and efficiency through predictive maintenance, aiding air traffic management, and refining pilot training with advanced insights and simulations. Understanding what AI will mean for the CAA and how it will affect the way we work and how we regulate is a crucial part of this strategy work.

The CAA have created a survey that focuses on how they regulate AI. Your support in helping create a strategy for the safe and secure use of AI in aviation would be greatly appreciated.

The survey will close Friday 29 March 2024. More information is available on the CAA website

SAM IS ....
CAA Call for Volunteers: Electronic Conspicuity User Study

The UK Civil Aviation Authority, in partnership with Baringa and QinetiQ, is hosting virtual workshops in February to discuss Electronic Conspicuity (EC) device use. The sessions will look at how EC is used to detect airborne threats and how decisions are made to avoid airborne collisions.

They are looking for volunteers who are operationally qualified users from the following categories:

  • Specific and Certified Category RPAS Operators
  • Air Traffic Service Controllers
  • Commercial fixed and rotary wing flight crews
  • GA fixed and rotary wing flight crews
  • GA crews not routinely in receipt of air traffic services during flight, e.g., gliding, paragliding, hang gliding, ballooning

Participants cannot not have any connection to an EC manufacturer.

If you are interested in attending a workshop please email your name, contact details and which of the categories you fall under to: [email protected]