A new trial to bring faster, more convenient and more reliable delivery services to residents and businesses on the remote islands of Orkney will take place over the next two months using Windracers’ Ultra self-flying cargo aircraft.
The trial is part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) program and aims to demonstrate readiness to operate a commercial drone service that can transport meaningful payloads reliably, cost-effectively and sustainably for the benefit of communities in remote locations, such as the Highlands and Islands.
Windracers is operating a scheduled service over a period of 90 days in July and August with its Ultra twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft moving autonomously between the islands of Eday, Westray and North Ronaldsay in Orkney several times each week. It expects to complete 2,000km of autonomous flights over the course of the trial and will integrate its flight schedule with the existing logistics network including Streamline Shipping Group, which handles over 90% of last-mile deliveries to the Scottish islands of Orkney and Shetland.
The Ultra aircraft will operate in segregated airspace, with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) allowing it to fly autonomously within several temporary danger areas (TDAs) for the trial period. Longer-term, the company is looking toward non-segregated operations with the set-up of Transponder Mandatory Zones (TMZs), which would enable the system to see, and be seen by, other air traffic.
“We are delighted to have secured regulatory approval to operate our low-cost platform in UK airspace for this scheduled service trial. It is testament to our robust technology, processes and training procedures,” commented Simon Muderack, CEO at Windracers. “We have worked extensively with the CAA and we see a clear pathway to operating a full commercial service in Orkney.”
Will Rodger, service manager at Streamline Shipping Group, added, “As part of our path to net zero, we are running several trials including drone-based deliveries, unmanned seafaring vessels, and hydrogen HGVs. Drones present an opportunity to make more regular deliveries to and collections of locally-produced goods from the island communities we have supported for over 40 years – potentially increasing twice-weekly routes to become daily, which would have a massive impact on residents and businesses.”
As well as flying across the Orkney Isles during July and August, Windracers is planning a further trial later in the year that will see it operating between Orkney and the islands of Shetland. Streamline Shipping Group, which was also the first delivery firm to introduce electric vehicles to its fleet on Orkney, will again provide insight into how the technology can improve deliveries to and from the islands.
Windracers will be exhibiting its Ultra self-flying aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow next week (July 22-26, 2024).