For many islanders, delays to the postal service are an inescapable part of life.
But that should no longer be the case for those living in Orkney, after it became the first place in Britain to have mail delivered by a drone.
The new Royal Mail service will see post transported from the Kirkwall delivery office to the village of Stromness, where drones will then transfer items to posties on the islands of Hoy and Graemsay for their regular routes.
Currently, mail arrives at Kirkwall Airport before being sent by plane or ferry to Orkney’s 19 inhabited islands.
But the challenging geography and weather conditions often result in delivery disruptions.
You’ve got mail! Orkney has become the first place in Britain to have post delivered by a drone
It is hoped the introduction of drones will significantly improve service levels and delivery times, while also reducing emissions and increasing safety levels.
The Orkney I-Port operation was launched by Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services, in partnership with Orkney Council Harbour Authority and LoganAir.
It will initially operate for three months but could be continued on a permanent basis under existing regulatory frameworks due to Orkney’s unique landscape and the proximity of the islands to one another.
The flights will be carried out by a multirotor drone called the Speedbird Aero DLV-2, which is capable of carrying payloads of up to 13lbs (6kg).
Chris Paxton, head of drone trials at Royal Mail, said: ‘We are proud to be working with Skyports to deliver via drone to some of the most remote communities that we serve in the UK.
‘Using a fully electric drone supports Royal Mail’s continued drive to reduce emissions associated with our operations, whilst connecting the island communities we deliver to.”
Alex Brown, director of Skyports Drone Services, said: ‘By leveraging drone technology, we are revolutionising mail services in remote communities, providing more efficient and timely delivery, and helping to reduce the requirement for emissions-producing vehicles.
‘We’re pleased to be once again partnering with Royal Mail to demonstrate how drone operations can benefit UK logistics on this project.’
Royal Mail made the UK’s first drone package delivery on the Isle of Mull in 2020, using a Skyports unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The single package – a jumper from Selfridges – was carried to a remote lighthouse in Tobermory.
The flights will be carried out by a multirotor drone called the Speedbird Aero DLV-2, which is capable of carrying payloads of up to 13lbs (6kg)
The new Royal Mail service will see post transported from the Kirkwall delivery office to the village of Stromness, where drones will then transfer items to posties on the islands of Hoy and Graemsay for their regular routes
The Skyports drones are much smaller than others being trialled by Royal Mail, in partnership with London company Windracers (pictured)
The Skyports drones are much smaller than others being trialled by Royal Mail, in partnership with London company Windracers.
Looking more like planes, each of these twin-engine craft has a 32-foot wingspan and incorporates a ‘high-reliability’ autopilot system.
They can carry up to 220lbs (100kg) of mail of all shapes and sizes for two daily return flights between islands.
Last year Royal Mail announced that it was building a fleet of 500 of these drones to carry mail to remote communities all over the UK, including the Isles of Scilly and the Hebrides.
The postal service, which has already conducted successful trials over Scotland and Cornwall, will create more than 50 new postal drone routes over the next three years as part of its tie-up with Windracers.
Royal Mail wants to secure more than 50 drone routes supported by up to 200 drones over the next three years.
But longer term, the ambition is to deploy a fleet of more than 500 drones servicing all corners of the UK.
The new Royal Mail service will see post transported from the Kirkwall delivery office to the village of Stromness, where drones will then transfer items to posties on the islands of Hoy and Graemsay for their regular routes
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