Lift-off for drone technology: CAA approves Operational Authority for critical national infrastructure patrols
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved Operational Authority for leading independent drone advisors, Drone Major to conduct the UK’s first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights over the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure, marking a major breakthrough in the drone industry. This is the first time long-distance approved BVLOS drones in non-segregated airspace have been given the green light to fly over […]
UK government pledges over £20 million for flying taxis and drones
The UK government’s aviation minister Mike Kane has confirmed that over £20 million will be put towards the development of flying taxis and drone services in the UK. The government hopes the funding will “maximise opportunities for better and cheaper public services while cutting carbon emissions”. This comes after the government released the ‘Future of Flight’ action […]
Coventry City Council, working with Skyfarer, VESOS and HAAS Alert demonstrates the benefits of drone-ready Cities and eCall alerts
Coventry City Council teamed up with Skyfarer, Midlands Aerospace Alliance, VESOS Solutions and HAAS Alert to demonstrate the benefits of drones, by demonstrating how a drone can deliver ‘first eyes’ on a vehicle collision. Delegates at the Local Council Road Infrastructure Group (LCRIG) Innovation & Learning Festival saw how a drone can accelerate and refine […]
National Highways introduces new system to manage drone operation near roads
National Highways has developed a new flight management system to make it easier to plan the use of drones for monitoring and surveying near its assets across the country. The Drone Cloud developed flight management system was launched earlier this month. Its aim is to speed up the process for drone operators looking to fly […]
Drones to monitor traffic in the West Midlands
The West Midland’s regional transport managers have been given a new tool to monitor and handle traffic jams – drones. The drones will fly over congestion hotspots and traffic queues at accident scenes or road closures and send live footage to transport managers enabling them to better plan diversions and keep the public informed. Transport […]
Drones providing safer, more cost-effective bridge inspections on Essex Highways
Bridge inspections by drone is proving to save money, avoids road closures and improves repair programmes, according to Essex County Council. Camera drones are already being used in industry but, in a major innovation, drones and related tech are now helping Essex Highway engineers to carefully inspect critical structures like bridges and culverts in better, […]
Drones return to Kent for second part of trial to see how they can help spot and assess road damage
A trial looking at how drones could be used to find and assess damage to the county’s roads is now in its second phase. The Kent Live Labs project will see three separate flights taken across the A20 near Lenham over the next few months. The first phase, carried out at the Kent Showground car […]
Amey drones back in the sky over Kent
Kent County Council’s highways maintenance provider Amey is embarking on phase two of a drone trial technology project, this time in a bid to inspect vegetation (soft landscape) and highways assets around the network and identify any defects in power and water utilities infrastructure around Kent. The footage captured from the drone will be used […]
