Sky’s the Limit: Revolutionising Business with Drone Technology: Podcast
Join Elliott Parnham and Jonathan Howl, Host of the Green Business Podcast, as Elliott shares his insights on how drones are transforming business operations across various sectors.
Innovative Drone Technology: Elliot Parnham, Founder of Skyfarer, discusses how drones are transforming business operations, from logistics to infrastructure inspection.
Sustainability Benefits: The episode highlights the environmental advantages of using drones, such as reducing carbon footprints and enhancing efficiency
Challenges and Solutions: Elliot shares insights on overcoming regulatory, technological, and operational hurdles in adopting drone technology
Future Potential: The conversation explores the latest advancements and the promising future of drones in various industries
Skyfarer have built the UK’s first functional and operational hub, set in the center of their own hub-centric network being utilized for the Medical Logistics UK Corridor.
WHAT IS A HUB-CENTRIC NETWORK?
Businesses and organisations subscribe to utilise the full capability of the Skyfarer hub and network. As a result, they can turn their use case into a regulated, authorised, and economically advantageous drone operation.
Having a shared service hub means that access to this technology and capability is far more cost-effective whilst not diminishing utilisation. Each hub is being developed to serve a 40km radius connecting each spoke. Whether that be to deliver a product or provide a surveillance solution, the Skyfarer hub contains a drone fleet that is specifically designed and optimised for each operation you are desiring to achieve.
THE SKYFARER HUB
The heart of the Skyfarer Network of services is the hub, the “home of the drones”. This is a space where the drones are maintained, and operations are run for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) sorties.
The purpose of a hub-centric network is to centralize operations. This enables the Skyfarer team to run time-efficient and coherent flights that can be shared amongst end users. Meaning that services can be provided to customers cheaper, quicker and via means that are far more sustainable.
The Skyfarer hub contains a soundproof Operations room, a picking and packing station, an order management station, and a maintenance workshop. It also serves as the headquarters for the Skyfarer team.
The Skyfarer hub-centric network is being used for the first time as part of the ‘Medical Logistics UK Trial’ running from October to January. This trial links 2 hospitals managed by the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, to the Skyfarer hub and also enables a logistical connection between Coventry and Rugby local communities.
Skyfarer have chosen the West Midlands to set up its first hub due to its centralized location in the UK. This pertains to its history of innovation and technology development.
By 2030, Skyfarer sees a further 20 hubs spread out across the UK, to connect end users by the sky.
Skyfarer and Medical Logistics Announce Drone Corridor BVLOS Trials
Skyfarer Ltd and partner Medical Logistics UK have announced their collaborative Medical Drone Delivery Beyond Visual Line of Sight trial commencing this week, in a secured CAA approved airspace called “The Medical Logistics UK Corridor”.
Due to growing pressures on the healthcare system, there is an ever-expanding need for hospitals to receive vital time-sensitive medical supplies.
As a result of the significant congestion on our roads and heavy infrastructure, Skyfarer believe that these needs are not currently being met in an efficient manner.
Project Manager for Skyfarer, Georgia Hanrahan said “There are no potholes in the sky, nor is there as much congestion, and without the need for heavy infrastructure to land, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can add to the fleet of logistical transfers and provide a faster, more sustainably friendly and cheaper solution.”
Connecting 32km of airspace between the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire Trust’s hospitals in Coventry and Rugby, The Medical Logistics UK corridor will be in place for a three-month period from October until December 2022, to conduct a record-breaking number of routine and ad hoc medical drone deliveries.
Flights will be conducted in all weather conditions throughout the remainder of the year as well as at varying times of day so that the Flight Operations team can work with the Trust to determine how this technology can be permanently integrated going forward. The consortia want to ensure that it is accessible to each department whenever it is required.
A series of routine and ad-hoc emergency flights will also be conducted to determine the reliability of the Skyfarer service and futureproof the NHS integration.
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Skyfarer Obtains BVLOS Approval
Skyfarer Ltd has secured its first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) approval. This BVLOS approval commenced a week of flight operations at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre, Llanbedr Airfield earlier this year.
Georgia Hanrahan, Project Manager:
This is a significant step forward for operators in our industry. This approval allows us to access the untapped potential that commercial drones have to benefit society safely, for those that secure this approval.
What BVLOS means for Skyfarer
Achieving BVLOS approval has been an important milestone for Skyfarer, allowing for a wide range of data capture, the chance to react to unexpected challenges, and an opportunity for the operations team to familiarise themselves with flight procedures and processes in preparation for their upcoming trial this year.
“Just two weeks after we were awarded BVLOS, we were out there flying. It was a big step for us,” says Remote Pilot and Flight Ops Engineer, Yahya Abulfaraj.
Beyond Visual Line of Sight approval is a very important requirement to enable drone operators to fly and plan longer, more ambitious flights, which will widen the scope of how drones can be used for good across the UK and globally.
However, Beyond Visual Line of Sight flight wouldn’t be possible without partners Altitude Angel, who provide the key detection and avoid technology enabling Skyfarer to deconflict and avoid obstacles whilst not having an eye on the drone in flight.
Yahya Abulfaraj says that “this type of approval doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, this regulation journey started over 2 years ago.”
“We started applying for BVLOS in late 2020 and it involved many amendments before we finally received the approval” he adds.
This was Skyfarer’s second time at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre but the first of it’s kind for BVLOS operations. The Snowdonia Aerospace Centre was the perfect place to enable the team to practice their processes and procedures, implement new standards of operations and conduct important data captures.
Snowdonia Aerospace was approved by the Civil Aviation Authority in September 2021, following 2 years of intensive review and investment, to become the first commercial (non-military) controlled and managed “Permanent Danger Area” in the UK, in support of the regular research, development, testing and evaluation of drones and other novel aerospace systems. This is an area that can be used for operators like Skyfarer to test the technology in a safe and secure environment, without the need for constant regulatory applications. The Snowdonia Aerospace Centre in sense is a home for all aircraft, UAV or otherwise to develop and innovate.
Lee Paul, CEO of the Centre:
We were delighted to host and support Skyfarer on their exciting journey in securing their BVLOS approvals. This is a significant step forward for their business development and we look forward to working with them as they continue to look to undertake regular and routine BVLOS operations.
We have invested substantially in the facilities and services available at the airfield and continue to provide companies like Skyfarer the opportunity to test and evaluate their operations in an ideal environment in the UK. Too many UK businesses have been previously unable to test their novel aerospace system in the UK due to the lack of dedicated restricted commercial airspace and have had to therefore look to overseas facilities. The ability for UK business to now undertake their R & D and testing in the UK in a unique environment is not only commercially advantageous but also retains the investment and economic activity in the UK.
What did Skyfarer achieve?
There were 2 main routes that Skyfarer used throughout the trial, whilst they racked up an impressive amount of BVLOS flight hours.
The start of the week saw the team running operations and conducting procedure checks to ensure that they were ready for a week of intensive flights, including a short test flight to a nearby location 500m away, before commencing a 14km flight.
On Tuesday the Skyfarer team were focused on capturing data whilst operating in difficult and unexpected weather conditions that showed no signs of giving up in the days ahead.
The later part of the week was a highlight for Skyfarer, as the team secured 11 BVLOS flights in a 6 hour window, with a total distance of 160kms flown.
“This was one of the most successful days in Skyfarer history to date” says Yahya.
Whilst this was a successful trial and enabled Skyfarer to test their operational capability in preparation for their upcoming trial this year, the team encountered some unexpected challenges during the BVLOS test flights to a local beach in the area.
During the later part of the week, the team had planned to land in a specially cordoned-off area along a beach. However, when the drone arrived near the landing, the Skyfarer operations team realized something was wrong. A man from one of the nearby families watching from behind the cordoning, decided to jump the fence and approach the landing drone whilst pointing at it.
“From our assessment, it seems like it was unintentional and on accident” adds Yahya.
“However, we were prepared for this type of situation. It is exactly the kind of unplanned event that proves the importance of having these procedures in place, of which we were there to test.”
The Skyfarer team rapidly risk assessed the situation and decided to change their plan landing.
“We followed procedure and had the drone abort its landing, before changing its landing location to our pre-planned emergency landing location” says Yahya.
In result, it was a successful outcome for all involved.
With thanks
This Skyfarer Project was made possible by both the support of the Aerospace Unlocking Potential (Aerospace UP) programme, which supports the aerospace supply chain in the Midlands by helping to unlock its innovation potential and the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre.
Aerospace UP is being delivered by the University of Nottingham and the Midlands Aerospace Alliance. Aerospace UP is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Snowdonia Aerospace Centre offers a unique facility in the UK and have invested substantially in creating the ideal infrastructure, services and facilities to support the testing and evaluation of BVLOS operations.
Whilst this operation was a great first step, there is a lot to be done to enable operators like Skyfarer to conduct more routine flights in the years to come without such a long approval process and change of airspace. Skyfarer are pioneering this change in policy through Mayor of the West Midlands Trailblazer Devolution Deal.
Both Skyfarer and Snowdonia Aerospace Centre are ARPAS-UK Members.
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Altitude Angel to Partner Skyfarer, FlyPulse and Coventry Uni on Medical Drone Delivery Service
London, UK:Altitude Angel, the world’s leading UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) technology provider, today announced it is to join an international consortium comprising of tech start-ups and a world-renowned university research department to establish a corridor in the Midlands to enable medical & other deliveries via drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
Skyfarer’s solution is a system of systems, neatly packaged into a robust operational process, leveraging the expertise and technology from the technical partners. It is a platform which allows any organisation to access an ecosystem of drones, to then be used in diverse logistical operations, safely, autonomously and cost effectively with very low capital investment.
With this service, Skyfarer will be able to distribute medication, blood, test kits, food, digital devices and much more within a Just-In-Time operational framework with very low infrastructure.
Alongside Skyfarer, Altitude Angel will be joining Swedish autonomous system solutions provider, FlyPulse, and members of the Coventry University Future Transport and Cities Research Institute.
Skyfarer is taking the first steps to creating a drone corridor in the Midlands (UK) which will connect communities, airports, and medical facilities.
On joining the consortium Richard Ellis, Altitude Angel, Chief Business Officer, said: “We are excited to be working with Skyfarer to establish safe and repeatable BVLOS capabilities integrated with other airspace users. This is the next step in truly scaling drone operations.”
Elliot Parnham, Skyfarer, Founder & CEO, added: “Altitude Angel are breaking down barriers with its world leading UTM solution, enabling Skyfarer’s vision of a society connected and supported by drones. We are excited to be collaborating with Altitude Angel in our mission to make drone delivery possible for the benefit of the NHS and society.”
