The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved the country’s first beyond visual line of sight (BVLoS) drone flights over critical infrastructure such as railway lines.

Independent drone advisor Drone Major will conduct the trials.

This is the first time long-distance approved BVLoS drones in non-segregated airspace have been given the green light to fly over the UK’s critical national infrastructure.

This development will initially enable long-range drones to patrol over the UK’s rail networks. It marks a step towards enabling more complex BVLoS operations across other areas of critical national infrastructure, with potential applications in sectors such as energy, utilities, defence, border management and sensitive national infrastructure surveillance.

The approval was possible as a result of Network Rail enabling and funding this work, and now paves the way for possible imminent trials of the technology on a critical 12km train route between Wolverhampton and Sandwell & Dudley stations. The trials have the potential to improve the safety, speed and efficiency of the UK railway service, while delivering many millions of pounds a year in savings.

Testing of the project would demonstrate the potential to deploy drones safely and reliably at scale over critical national infrastructure. In partnership with Network Rail (www.networkrail.co.uk), Drone Major’s technology has already been tested along the rail corridor south-east of Wolverhampton station and the Severn Valley Railway lines, presenting an opportunity to speed up the verification and interception of trespassers, thereby reducing delays to trains in a critical and very busy area, and potentially also saving lives.

Flying over railways, these drones will operate in a carefully defined safety corridor, much like aeroplanes, using Drone Major’s Digital Tethering concept to assure the safety of the aircraft’s flight behaviour, reducing risks to those on the ground. Digital Tethering began in Wolverhampton before being trialled further afield to include tests, trials and surveys along the Severn Valley Railway. The drones can monitor the UK’s railways, transmitting visual data in real time to operators, providing detection and monitoring of trespassers.

Digital Tethering uses a range of onboard navigation and safety systems as well as ground-based technology, enabling reliable autonomous navigation, providing real-time and precise position of the drones, particularly in areas along the railway where GPS and GNSS signals are unstable or inaccessible. Digital Tethering has been designed to improve safety and increase the efficiency of UAS operations during monitoring and inspection tasks.

As an advisor on the use of drones in critical national infrastructure, Drone Major plans to run additional trials with more organisations in the near future.

“The CAA’s approval of operational authority for trials of BVLoS flights marks a landmark moment for the drone industry,” said Robert Garbett, chief executive of Drone Major (dronemajor.net). “This milestone opens up new opportunities to unlock and transform the UK’s critical national infrastructure, especially in densely built environments where traditional methods often fall short. It sets a new benchmark for safety and efficiency, positioning the UK as a world leader in drone innovation while also unlocking innovation.”

Sophie O’Sullivan, director of future of flight at the CAA (www.caa.co.uk), added: “We’re working with companies to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality, contributing to the modernisation of UK airspace and enabling new technology into our skies. By supporting projects ranging from critical infrastructure inspections to consumer deliveries, we are gathering essential data to shape future policies and regulations, and support the growth of the aerospace industry.”