First Test Flights Performed at UK BVLOS Test Corridor

By Mike Ball / 06 Feb 2019

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

Cranfield BVLOS drone testing

Cranfield University has announced that the first test flights to establish the principles for the National Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) Experimentation Corridor (NBEC) have successfully taken place at Cranfield Airport. NBEC is a collaboration between Cranfield University and Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd that aims to create an experimentation corridor that will enable drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to fly in the same airspace as manned aircraft.

Blue Bear executed three-kilometre Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS) race track flights within the Cranfield Air Traffic Zone, utilising their Blackstart Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) towards their facility in Oakley. Regulations currently require drones to operate within visual line of sight of the operator at all times. Under EVLOS conditions, observers are used to maintain the line of sight while providing situational awareness to the operator.

The NBEC partners believe the key to future drone operations is not segregation, but unification ensuring fair and equitable use of airspace for all. NBEC will provide a safe, managed environment for drone and unmanned aircraft experimentation which will work towards their integration into controlled and uncontrolled airspace. The aim is to see the corridor eventually stretch across Bedfordshire from Blue Bear’s headquarters in Oakley to Cranfield University’s airport.

Ian Williams-Wynn, Managing Director of Blue Bear, said: “When fully operational, the NBEC will be operated with Blue Bear and Cranfield running their respective systems, and will create an environment that allows other companies to come and test their UTM (Unified Traffic Management) concepts in a safe, managed environment.”

“These initial flights, enabled us to provide Cranfield Airport with reassurance from an operational safety perspective that the systems Blue Bear had developed and put in place are appropriate and compatible with Cranfield Airport operations.”

Professor Iain Gray, Director of Aerospace at Cranfield University, said: “The Government’s new aviation strategy green paper highlights the exciting potential of modernising the UK’s airspace. These initial flights, mark an important step in the realisation of NBEC, which will be a national asset that will support the journey to the creation of a Unified Traffic Management system.”

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently hosted the NBEC Team at its London headquarters, and provided the team with support and encouragement on their project and their staged risk, managed approach. Workup flights will be continuing at both ends of the NBEC Corridor throughout 2019.

During this first phase of testing, the Cranfield Air Traffic Zone was cleared of manned aircraft, to enable the project team to establish the principles for future integrated NBEC operations.

Watch a video of the test flight below:

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Elistair’s Tethered Drone System Integrated into Autonomous Port Security Project

Elistair's tethered drone system will provide continuous surveillance of ports from an autonomous vessel as part of the European SMAUG project

Jun 12, 2025
MEMS DC Accelerometers from SDI Deliver Superior Performance for Unmanned Systems

SDI's MEMS DC accelerometers offer a robust solution for unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles, providing precise static and dynamic motion sensing, crucial for autonomous navigation, attitude feedback, and structural monitoring

Jun 12, 2025
AWI Completes First Under-Ice Dive in the Arctic with an ecoSUB AUV

The Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) has completed the first under-ice deployment of ecoSUB's smallest autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) the ecoSUB-µ5 during a mission in Arctic conditions

Jun 12, 2025
SatLab Geosolutions Introduces HydroBoat 1200MB Integrated USV Survey Solution

SatLab Geosolutions’ new HydroBoat 1200MB combines USV technology and the HydroBeam M2 sonar for real-time 3D surveys, offering fast deployment, high efficiency, and reduced operational costs

Jun 12, 2025
Trillium Unveils Lightweight Imaging System for Medium & Long-Range Reconnaissance

Trillium Engineering introduces the HD45-LV-R, a lightweight, high-performance imaging system designed to enhance LRR and MRR reconnaissance missions for modern defense platforms

Jun 12, 2025
How to Select the Right IMU for UAV Applications

GuideNav outlines the critical considerations for selecting an IMU that matches your UAV’s performance, durability, size, and mission requirements

Jun 12, 2025

Featured Content

Calian GNSS Unveils New Anti-Jamming CRPA with XF+ Filtering

Calian GNSS has introduced the CR8894SXF+, a compact CRPA antenna with in-band null forming and XF+ filtering for resilient GNSS performance in interference-prone environments

Jun 06, 2025
Honeywell Introduces HG3900 Tactical-Grade IMU with Enhanced Sensor Accuracy

Honeywell has introduced the HG3900 IMU, a MEMS-based device with tactical-grade accuracy, offering significant SWaP advantages for precision navigation systems

Jun 05, 2025
TEKEVER Invests £400 Million to Advance UK Defense & Drive AI Innovation

TEKEVER is investing £400 million in UK defense innovation, creating 1,000+ jobs and advancing AI, autonomy, and electronic warfare through its five-year OVERMATCH program

May 29, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.