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The trial, with drone operating company Windracers, is part of the UK Research and Innovation-funded ‘SATE’ project – a bid to better connect remote island communities.
The drone is a UK-built fuel-powered twin-engine Ultra, and will operated from Kirkwall Airport on a 35 mile each-way flight.
Ultra, deigned for Windracers by the University of Southampton, can carry 100kg of mail. On arrival, letters and parcels will then be delivered to the 70 residents by the local postwoman.
“If the trial is successful, the technology will be considered by Royal Mail to support postmen and postwomen in delivering to very remote areas and addresses across the UK,” according to the European Marine Energy Centre. “UAVs can fly in poor weather conditions, including fog, because they are un-crewed, and, unlike boat services, they are not affected by tides. This could make them suited to help Royal Mail better service remote island communities and provide deliveries in all weathers.”
SATE?
The Orkeney-based European Marine Energy Centre is involved because it has been working on Orkeney transport with SATE project member Highlands and Islands Limited (HIAL) for a number of years. SATE is the ‘Sustainable Aviation Test Environment’ project, based at Kirkwall Airport, operated and led by HIAL – the University of Southampton is part of the project.
It is part of ‘Future Flight Challenge’ funded by UK Research and Innovation through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
This is the third Royal Mail drone trial over the last year, said EMEC. In December 2020, it delivered a parcel to a lighthouse on the Isle of Mull, then in May 2021, with Windracers, it made the first UK drone parcel delivery beyond visual line-of-site, and claimed a first for inter-island deliveries within the Isles of Scilly.
