Drone Company Completes Long-Range Test Demonstrating Offshore Wind Integration Capability
What happened
Airspection completed a round trip of approximately 14 km over the open sea during testing conducted off Liverpool Bay. The flights were part of a program supported by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to gather evidence for routine long-range drone operations within UK airspace. The demonstration involved launching from shore, flying toward a working offshore wind farm, and returning to land. The aircraft successfully demonstrated the ability to operate in strong winds, with tests showing a 40% reduction in hover power consumption at wind speeds of 10 to 12 metres per second.
Why it matters
The testing was conducted as part of an innovation sandbox program run with UK Research and Innovation. This initiative is intended to develop the necessary safety evidence for integrating Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations into UK airspace. The successful demonstration validates the technical capability required for potential future long-range support of offshore wind infrastructure.
Who's involved
- University of StrathclydeDrone company involved in the innovation sandbox testing.
- UK Research and InnovationUK research body supporting the innovation sandbox program.
- National Police Air ServiceCivil aviation authority involved in regulating the testing of UK airspace.
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The entities involved
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University of Strathclyde
university in Glasgow, Scotland, UK
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UK Research and Innovation
research funding body for the United Kingdom