FLY SMART, FLY SAFE
The Smart Skies Healthy Waters initiative has been awarded £6 million as a headline winner of Ofwat’s fifth Water Breakthrough Challenge, aiming to revolutionize coastal water quality monitoring in the UK. Led by Northumbrian Water in collaboration with ARPAS-UK Member Skyports Drone Services, Makutu, Newcastle University, and Proteus Instruments, the project introduces a novel approach by integrating automated drones, advanced sensors, and cloud-based analytics to deliver near real-time water quality data.
Traditional water monitoring methods are often labor-intensive and infrequent. This project addresses these limitations by deploying drones equipped with sampling and analysis sensors directly over waterways. Collected samples are analyzed on-site using “lab-in-a-box” units, significantly reducing the time to obtain results from days to mere minutes. The data is then made publicly accessible, empowering communities with timely information about coastal water health.
“This project provides a ground-breaking opportunity to harness new technologies to enable more frequent monitoring of our bathing waters. This project will be a world first and a step change for our sector, helping to ensure healthier waters for our customers communities and our environment.“ Richard Warneford, Wastewater Director, Northumbrian Water (Smart Skies, Healthy Waters lead partner)
Alex Brown, Director of Drone Services, Skyports, said: “Monitoring and improving the UK’s water quality is so important to all of us. With drones we can reach further, more frequently and provide better insights compared to the normal way of collecting water samples. We started working with Northumbria Water and Makutu two years ago with our first water monitoring service, and this is the latest milestone to take this service to the next step. In the future we see a large network of water monitoring drones flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight around key water sites in the UK, providing instant insights back to Northumbrian Water, as well as other utilities, allowing them to take action where required to keep our waterways clean.”
David Black, CEO of Ofwat said: “Water underpins our society and economy, and the water sector faces a range of challenges requiring urgent solutions. The Ofwat Innovation Fund was established five years ago to incentivise the water sector to collaborate with partners across industry, charities, and academia to accelerate the pace of transformation and create lasting benefits for customers and the environment. The level of ambition of this year’s winners is remarkable. We are supporting these projects to prove their impact so that they can be scaled, not only here in England and Wales, but exported around the world as a driver of economic growth”.
Makutu contributes its expertise in cloud-native data platforms, AI, and IoT to power the real-time data infrastructure, transforming raw sensor inputs into actionable insights. Skyports, known for operating long-range automated drones, provides the necessary infrastructure and regulatory knowledge to facilitate these complex operations.
21 May 2025
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Major software update to muLTElink products enables advanced link management for assured Command, Control (C2) and payload for UAS operations.
uAvionix, a leader in low-SWaP aviation-grade communications and surveillance technologies for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), today announced a significant software update to its muLTElink product family, enabling advanced link management for assured Command and Control (C2) and payload during UAS operations.
muLTElink, which integrates up to four independent radios (C-Band, LTE, ISM, and optional IP based radios such as SATCOM or Starlink), includes advanced Dynamic Link Selection and Active Link Monitoring features. These improvements allow seamless, automated make-before-break switching across multiple C2 links—without operator intervention. The upgrade enables dedicated radios for Command Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) to be optimized for path and frequency diversity, minimizing the risk of lost connectivity in complex terrain or dynamic RF environments, while allowing an additional link for transmittal of payload data.
“This release delivers meaningful improvements in operational resilience and cost-efficiency that our customers have asked for,” said Cyriel Kronenburg, VP of UAS and Aviation Networks at uAvionix. “Our customers face unpredictable terrain, RF interference, and increasing complexity while trying to control the aircraft and complete the mission. muLTElink’s enhanced automation means the UAS selects the best available link in real-time for C2 and keeps payload data streaming—so operators can focus on the mission, not the network, all through a single device.”
The upgraded muLTElink is optimized for high-risk and complex UAS operations such as:
Current muLTElink configurations include the muLTElink5060, which combines LTE and C-Band in a compact 100g, 2W package, and the muLTElink915, offering LTE and ISM radios at 65g. Both support external SATCOM integration and are managed via uAvionix’s SkyLine C2 Manager, a web-based platform for link arbitration and C2 application integration. Either muLTELink can be combined with a skyLink915 or skyLink5060 for up to four communications links.
muLTElink and skyLine is already at several ranges in partnership with NASA, Choctaw Nation, OAIRE, skyWay Range, Thales, and Vantis, and is active at multiple FAA-designated UAS test sites.
21 May 2025
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Drones in Action End User Stories:
A British farm suffered major yield loss after flea beetles damaged its oilseed rape crop. Replanting by tractor risked soil compaction and further damage.
AutoSpray Systems used drones to double the seeding rate with no tread damage or Scope 1 CO₂ emissions, boosting efficiency and protecting healthy plants.
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16 May 2025
Airspace Link announces the official launch of the Operations Center in its flagship product AirHub® Portal. At the core of the Operations Center is its open platform architecture, which integrates with a range of airspace awareness data sources, including crewed aircraft ADS-B detection systems from industry leader uAvionix.
Airspace Link, a leading FAA-approved UAS (Drone) Service Supplier of B4UFLY and LAANC, today announced the official launch of the Operations Center in its flagship product AirHub® Portal. Designed to give organizations real-time operational oversight, the Operations Center enables strategic insight, situational awareness, and live tracking of drone and crewed aircraft activity — all in one powerful system.
“The Operations Center transforms AirHub® Portal into a true command center for organizations managing drone operations at scale,” said Tyler Dicks, Head of Product at Airspace Link. “From public safety teams and federal agencies to state and local governments and commercial enterprises, we’re helping a wide range of users gain the operational clarity they need to deliver safer, smarter, and more coordinated drone operations.”
With the new Operate tab activated in AirHub® Portal, users can visualize:
Airspace Link’s new Operations Center in AirHub® Portal delivers a single-pane-of-glass solution for organizations that require coordinated, real-time airspace oversight. Built for flight operations managers, public safety agencies, airfield managers, and state and local authorities, the Operations Center offers a unified, interactive map display that provides a complete common operational picture of all active and planned missions, ensuring safer, more informed, and more efficient decision-making.
Also designed to meet the needs of IT leaders and security professionals, the Operations Center includes robust post-mission analytics, audit trails, and automatic reporting to support regulatory compliance, internal governance, and continuous operational improvement. Critically, Airspace Link safeguards its technology with enterprise-grade security and privacy protocols, backed by SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications — ensuring sensitive operational data is protected by industry-leading standards and rigorous best practices.
At the core of the Operations Center is its open platform architecture, which integrates with a range of airspace awareness data sources, including crewed aircraft ADS-B detection systems from industry leader uAvionix.
“We’re proud to partner with Airspace Link in delivering high integrity live aircraft traffic data for the Operations Center,” said Cyriel Kronenburg, Vice President for UAS and Aviation Networks from uAvionix, Airspace Link’s trusted sensor partner. “This integration ensures organizations have access to a high quality and accurate view of their surrounding airspace on a single pane of glass — a critical component for safe and effective drone operations.”
Now available for AirHub® Portal organization accounts, the Operations Center joins Airspace Link’s full suite of capabilities – from preflight planning and LAANC authorization to internal operation approvals, crew and asset management, and flight logging. Together, these tools form a comprehensive Drone Operations Management System (DOMS) purpose-built for the needs of modern, connected drone programs.
“Whether you’re overseeing a city-wide drone program or scaling enterprise operations, the Operations Center delivers the situational awareness and accountability today’s teams demand,” Dicks added. “It’s about empowering diverse stakeholders with the tools to operate smarter, safer, and with total confidence.”
As both an FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier of LAANC and B4UFLY, and a provider of advanced drone operations software, Airspace Link offers one of the only fully integrated Drone Operations Management Systems in the market, eliminating the need to manage multiple systems or vendors.
See It Live at XPONENTIAL 2025
Airspace Link will be exhibiting at XPONENTIAL 2025 in Houston. Visit us at Booth #4320 for a live demonstration of the Operations Center and to explore how AirHub® Portal can elevate your organization’s drone operations.
15 May 2025
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Drones in Action End User Stories:
Traditional wind turbine inspections involve technicians physically climbing turbines to check for damage, a method that is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and risky, particularly in harsh weather. This process typically covers only 2-5 turbines per day and may result in incomplete inspections due to limited access to certain blade areas.
Drone inspections reduce costs by 25% and can cover 10-12 turbines per day, whilst also keeping personnel on the ground, removing risk associated with working at height.
Learn more about ROAVR | Group
Learn more about Airborne Robotics
Read more about Drones in Energy, Utility & Infrastructure Inspection
13 May 2025
The British Transport Police (BTP) has become the first police force in the UK to operationalize a remote ‘drone in a box’ system, marking a significant advancement in law enforcement technology. This innovative capability enhances BTP’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents on the railway network, improving safety, reducing disruption, and supporting frontline operations as they happen.
The drones are strategically stationed at key locations across the network identified as hotspots for trespass and other disruptive incidents. They are flown remotely from BTP’s central control room in London, enabling a faster response to incidents, facilitating more informed decision-making, and freeing up on-the-ground officers to attend to other offences.
While standard drone operations typically require the pilot to maintain a Visual Line of Sight (VLOS), usually within a 500-metre radius for smaller drones, police forces are permitted to operate beyond this distance (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) under State Aircraft legislation. BTP is the first force to obtain legal advice and use Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) routinely and regularly in support of policing, rather than solely for emergency situations.
The initiative was showcased during a launch event on April 24, 2025, at a pilot site in Leeds. The event featured a live demonstration of the drone capability for key industry partners, including Network Rail, the Department for Transport, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Drones lead, West Yorkshire Police, Northern Rail, and the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) .
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi stated, “Our new ‘drone in a box’ capability is going to be transformational to our ability to reduce disruption across the rail network. This is groundbreaking technology which will allow us to respond to trespass incidents quickly, saving the industry money, improving safety, and keeping the railway moving for passengers”.
This deployment sets a precedent for the integration of autonomous drone technology in public safety operations, potentially influencing future policing strategies across the UK.
Other Emergency Services Related webposts.
12 May 2025
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched the Airspace Modernisation: Ground Infrastructure Survey to gather industry insights on enhancing ground-based surveillance and communication systems. This initiative aims to support the safe integration of uncrewed aircraft operations, particularly Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), into the UK’s airspace.
Key Focus Areas:
Participation Benefits:
The CAA is particularly interested in feedback from UAV operators, Air Navigation Service Providers, industry bodies, aerodrome operators, and drone operators. Additionally, organizations specializing in connectivity solutions and data encryption are encouraged to participate.
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12 May 2025
Highlighting the criticality of developing Non-Technical Skills (NTS), that is Human Factors and Crew Resource Management, for uncrewed teams and operators. Uncovering why the requirement for optimised NTS within the uncrewed sphere is not only as vital as for crewed flight, but also introduces new demands, not experienced in the traditional cockpit environment. Join us for this webinar with Chris Davies of Volaria Performance.
Who is this webinar for? RAEs, the Defence Sector, Companies interested in or already operating BVLOS, and Larger Drone Service Operating Companies with Teams of Pilots. It still remains beneficial for all drone service operating companies to watch.
Speaker Bios:
Chris Davies, Director, Volaria Performance.
Chris is an experienced military and civilian aviator and leader within both Rotary- and Fixed-Wing environments. A specialist in the field of HF/CRM, he also has extensive experience within the uncrewed sector and is thus uniquely placed to assist teams in navigating the increasingly demanding challenges faced in such operations.
For more webinars on various topics and to watch again
For further Human Factors related webinars:
For more on CHIRP (Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme) for UAS
17 February 2025
