Drone delivery service trialled in Orkney

^{Image: Windracers’ ULTRA can carry 100 kg up to 1000 km.}

A cargo drone delivery service in Orkney is being trialled with the aim of bringing a more convenient and reliable service to residents and businesses on the remote islands.

The maker of low-cost self-flying cargo aircraft, Windracers, is operating a scheduled service over a period of 90 days, with its ULTRA aircraft moving autonomously between the islands of Eday, Westray and North Ronaldsay in Orkney a number of times each week. 

It expects to complete 2,000 kilometres 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 per cent 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.

The drones can carry 100 kg up to 1000 km.
 
It 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, which would enable the system to see, and be seen by, other air traffic.
 
Will Rodger, service manager at Streamline Shipping Group, said: “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."

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.