Integrated drone operations for SATE

The Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) project has established the UK’s first operationally based low-carbon aviation test centre based at Kirkwall Airport on Orkney. Led by the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), SATE is at the forefront in progressing both the UK and Scottish government’s aviation and environmental aspirations and has already delivered new airport infrastructure at Kirkwall Airport and demonstrated hybrid-electric aircraft and logistics capabilities delivered by uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) – aircraft that are operated remotely without a human pilot on board.

Work Package 5 (WP5) of SATE focuses on exploring how UAS can be safely and efficiently integrated into current airspace with a particular focus on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. This work package plays a crucial role in delivering an airspace design with associated Air Traffic Service (ATS) provision to achieve safer, more efficient, and more sustainable aviation operations from a licenced commercial airport.

The Orkney Islands: An ideal testbed for integrated drone operations

Highland and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), with the support of Egis, are establishing the Trial Orkney Test Zone (TOTZ) and associated Air Traffic Control (ATC) procedures in the Orkney Islands to facilitate a range of uncrewed aircraft BVLOS trials and operations. This activity is part of the CAA BVLOS Integration Sandbox which provides the project with additional CAA advice and guidance including enhanced access to the CAA’s expertise on airspace design, air traffic services, and UAS operations.

The Orkney Islands are an ideal testbed for the trialling of airspace to promote integrated UAS operations. The Class G airspace and relatively low traffic density is representative of 90% of UK airspace and the unique geography offers some compelling high social value use cases. These use cases include essential services, such as medical deliveries and other high-value, time-critical freight transport, all of which can be offered with significantly reduced waiting times and associated delivery costs.

What WP5 hopes to deliver

The WP5 Trial Plan includes testing the resilience of UAS technology and operating procedures to demonstrate safe and effective integration of crewed and uncrewed traffic in a realistic and sustainable operating environment. This integration includes both ground and airborne operations from Kirkwall Airport. A key objective of WP5 is to develop the airspace and operational requirements required to enable UAS operations to deliver integrated, routine commercially viable services. Pictured below is the ULTRA UAS developed by SATE partner Windracers.

Looking ahead

The proposed airspace design and operational concept allows UAS to be integrated alongside crewed aircraft in uncontrolled airspace based on operations from a licenced commercial airport. If successful, the trial will provide a blueprint that could be rolled out more widely within Scotland and the wider UK. The work being carried out as part of WP5 is only the beginning. As the trials in the Orkney Islands continue, the insights gained will play a critical role in informing the next steps of UAS with enormous potential to enhance connectivity in rural areas, reduce emissions, and optimise future airspace management.

Moving beyond segregation towards integration - Why the Orkney Islands offers unrivalled opportunities to deliver integrated drone operations.

Client

Benefits and outcomes

The Orkney Islands: An ideal testbed for integrated drone operations

What WP5 hopes to deliver

Looking ahead

Written by Patrick Nolan, ATM advisor, HIAL and Richard Derrett-Smith, Director, Egis

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