Cargo drone delivery trials in Orkney

A cargo drone delivery service in Orkney is being trialled by Windracers using its unmanned aircraft the Ultra.

The twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft with a 10-metre wingspan will fly autonomously between the islands of Eday, Westray and North Ronaldsay in Orkney a number of times each week.

The scheduled service will run over a 90-day trial period and expects to complete 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) of autonomous flights.

It will integrate its flight schedule with the existing logistics network, including Streamline Shipping Group, which handles more than 90% of last-mile deliveries to the Scottish islands of Orkney and Shetland.

The trial is part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) programme and is part-funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK and the Economic and Social Research Council.

Its aim is 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’ Ultra will operate in segregated airspace, with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) allowing it to fly autonomously within a number of temporary danger areas (TDAs) for the 90-day period.

Longer-term, the company is looking towards 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,” said Simon Muderack, CEO at Windracers. “It is testament to our robust technology, processes and training procedures.”

“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 a number of 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."

The Ultra, which can carry 100kg up to 1000km, is able to take off, fly and land safely without the need of a remote pilot thanks to its proprietary Masterless autopilot technology.

Its systems are dual or triple redundant to ensure it can fly safely in the event of a hardware or software failure. 

Jayne Golding, SATE manager at Hitrans, said: “We’re delighted to reach this milestone for Windracers to trial the Ultra in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

“These trials are essential for the programme and for our technical partners, demonstrating capabilities and indeed the opportunities.

“We look forward to engaging the community and wider stakeholders in the activity.”

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 EVs to its fleet on Orkney, will again provide insight into how the technology can improve deliveries to and from the islands.

The Orkney drone delivery trial comes after Royal Mail announced it is trialling the use of drones to deliver mail between two remote Scottish islands, in collaboration with Skyports and Argyll and Bute Council.