Drone deliveries poised for take-off in Britain’s skies

However, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has warned that a widespread rollout of drone deliveries can only happen after new safety crash-prevention technology is developed.

Radio signals used to control drones can interfere with each other unless they have their own dedicated frequency.

Interference from other signals can also ground drones, jeopardising trials key to the race for fully autonomous aeroplanes.

A CAA spokesman welcomed Ofcom’s move, saying it will be a “key element” in developing future uses of drones in the UK.

Advances in drone technology are based on safely flying the craft beyond visual line of sight. Drones can only be legally flown if the operator can see them, restricting how far they can fly.   

In addition to Royal Mail’s trial, several others have taken place in the last few years where cargo-carrying drones have been exempted from normal rules as part of controlled experiments.

The Royal Air Force has also been using its military-grade SkyGuardian drones, made by General Atomics, for trial flights in Lincolnshire’s airways.

Airways are like motorways in the sky, reserved for use by airliners and long distance flights. Only aircraft talking to air traffic controllers are allowed in airways, making them well suited for trials of uncrewed aeroplanes.

Helen Hearn, Ofcom’s spectrum interim group director, said: “Commercial drones have the potential to bring a whole host of benefits, such as delivering vital supplies or assisting search and rescue operations in remote locations.

“We want to ensure that businesses pioneering these projects can access the spectrum they need to harness the full potential of the latest drone technology.”