A 12-month North Sea trial will start this summer to test the widescale use of drones flying alongside other aircraft, such as helicopters, which could unlock the…
A 12-month North Sea trial will start this summer to test the widescale use of drones flying alongside other aircraft, such as helicopters, which could unlock the potential of using drones to boost the security of oil and gas platforms.
The trial is run by the Civil Aviation Authority, NATS, and long-distance drone firm Flylogix,
Evidence will be gathered on types of short-notice flights, currently blocked by regulation, including use of drones for security monitoring of offshore assets, and testing for harmful methane emissions.
The work will become a blueprint for the use of drones in major cities such as for medical deliveries and even eVTOL ‘flying taxis’.
The trial comes amid renewed focus on the threat to critical national energy infrastructure in the wake of the war in Ukraine and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
Security experts recently discussed the risk to offshore platforms posed by drones, with ‘credible intelligence’ they could be used to mount an attack on infrastructure. However, Flylogix’ CEO Charles Tavner argues they can be deployed as an asset for protection.
“Security of our national critical infrastructure is of paramount importance, and streamlining the use of ultra-long-distance drones will
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