Glasgow-based drone company Airspection has completed a round trip of around 14 km over the open sea, operating entirely beyond the operator’s line of sight. The flights were carried out as part of a programme supported by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to develop the evidence needed for routine long-range drone operations in UK airspace. Airspection carried out the flights off Liverpool Bay, launching from the shore and operating the aircraft towards a working offshore wind farm before returning to shore.
The CAA selected Airspection in August 2024 as one of six projects participating in an innovation sandbox, alongside the National Police Air Service, NATS, Project SATE and Project Lifeline. The programme, run with UK Research and Innovation, is intended to develop safety evidence for integrating Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations into UK airspace.
Over two years of work with the CAA’s Innovation and Test and Evaluation teams, Airspection developed the aircraft and associated safety, communications and flight operations systems required for BVLOS operations. The Liverpool Bay campaign demonstrated the ability to launch from shore, fly over the sea towards an operating wind farm and return.
The aircraft is designed to maintain its position efficiently in strong winds. Tests at wind speeds of 10 to 12 metres per second reportedly reduced hover power consumption by around 40%, increasing flight time by approximately two-thirds.
The Liverpool Bay programme was supported by the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP), which provided funding for the development and demonstration of Airspection’s shore-launched BVLOS capability.
Airspection was co-founded in 2022 by Matthew McLean, who studied aero-mechanical engineering at the University of Strathclyde. The company developed from his work at the university and received early support from Strathclyde Inspire, including funding for its first prototype.
