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Innovative Approach to Enhance Postal Services in Remote Areas
Royal Mail has initiated a new trial to deliver mail using drones, collaborating with drone specialists Skyports and Argyll and Bute Council. This trial, partially funded by a £250,000 grant from the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, aims to demonstrate the potential of drones in improving public services.
The drone flights, running until July 26, transport mail between the remote Scottish isles of Islay and Jura. For the first time, postal workers are directly involved in loading and unloading the drones. This initiative employs a multirotor drone capable of carrying payloads up to 6kg, the same model used in Royal Mail’s previous trial in Orkney. The drone substitutes for the traditional ferry route, providing a more reliable and efficient service.
The multirotor drone, which can carry payloads of up to 6kg, is the same one used in Royal Mail’s previous trial in Orkney. It will transport mail that is usually taken via ferry in a Royal Mail van.
Extended Visual Line of Sight
This marks Royal Mail’s sixth drone trial and the second using Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS) technology. EVLOS allows drones to travel beyond the standard visual line of sight with the aid of trained observers who provide critical information to the remote pilot, ensuring safe operations.
The challenging weather and geography of the Inner Hebrides often disrupt ferry schedules, impacting mail delivery. Electric drones offer a solution by providing safe and consistent service between ports and marinas, contributing to emission reductions and operational safety improvements.
Chris Paxton, Royal Mail’s Head of Drones, stated, “This drone trial – Royal Mail’s sixth – is the latest step in our innovative collaboration with Skyports. Trialling drones allows us to test out new ways of working to support our posties in delivering to the most remote areas of the UK. As parcel volumes increase, we are continually looking for new ways to provide a reliable, fast and lower emission service to all our customers no matter where they live.”
Drones for Public Services
The trial aligns with Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation to deliver next day to each of the UK’s 32 million addresses. It also showcases the potential of drones in enhancing vital public services, supported by the UK Government’s £250,000 grant to Argyll and Bute Council via the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund.
Argyll and Bute Council, in collaboration with Skyports, is supporting organisations like Royal Mail to improve service delivery in remote areas. Alex Brown, Director of Skyports Drone Services, commented, “Argyll and Bute has been an important region for our UK flight trial and demonstration work over the years. With its coastal and island geography, drone services can significantly improve connectivity and bring substantial time savings for essential services such as medical logistics. We’re pleased to conduct more flights in the region with the Royal Mail and Argyll and Bute Council thanks to the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund.”
Royal Mail Drone Delivery Offers Benefits for All Stakeholders
Sir Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, emphasized the importance of innovation, stating, “Fresh thinking and new regulatory approaches will give confidence to investors, researchers and consumers alike. We want to encourage businesses to choose the UK as the best destination to develop their new ideas and bring great technologies to market.”
Cllr Jim Lynch, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, highlighted the broader benefits, saying, “We are working hard to make good things happen in Argyll and Bute and these innovative trials could transform the way vital services are delivered to people in our most remote communities. Not just council services either, but other local authorities, businesses, organisations, and emergency services throughout the UK – there is huge value in partnership working to help bring benefits to the people of Argyll and Bute.”
Royal Mail has a history of pioneering drone use in the UK. In 2020, it became the first UK parcel carrier to use a drone for delivery, followed by two significant achievements in 2021: delivering mail to a UK island via an out-of-sight autonomous drone flight and conducting the first inter-island drone flights in the UK with a smaller vertical take-off and landing drone.
This latest trial represents a continued effort to explore innovative solutions to improve postal services, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly delivery.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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