April 2025
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Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference examined the future of the UK drone industry and priorities for supporting innovation and growth in the sector.
Stakeholders and policymakers discussed next steps for policy and regulation, including the implementation of the Civil Aviation Authority’s plan to deliver scalable and routine BVLOS drone operations by 2028, looking at priorities for the demonstration phase moving into 2025.
Delegates assessed implications of proposed airspace modernisation for drone use, in light of the ongoing consultation by the CAA and DfT into the creation, scope and funding of a UK Airspace Design Service.
The agenda also looked into progress of the DfT’s UK Future of Flight Action Plan, including priorities for the Government, CAA and industry in achieving strategic outcomes, with discussion on developing of legal and regulatory frameworks and the way forward for testing emerging use-cases.
Sessions exploreed priorities for the Regulatory Innovation Office and its role in supporting innovation in the sector, including approaches for both industry and regulatory bodies to enable wider commercialisation and drone use-cases. We also expected discussion on challenges related to investment and innovation within the drone sector, exploring strategies to develop a more supportive investment climate, including the future of UKRI’s Future Flight Challenge initiative, alongside strategies for supporting investor confidence. The way forward for promoting safety and public acceptance was also discussed.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Sofia Stayte, Head, Future of Flight, DfT; Sophie O’Sullivan, Director, Future Flight Programme, CAA; Simon Masters, Deputy Challenge Director, Future Flight, Innovate UK; Robert Garbett, Chief Executive, Drone Major; Lewis Dickinson, Head, Flight Operations, Skyports; and Larissa Haas, UAS Policy Coordinator, Federal Office of Civil Aviation, Switzerland.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- policy: evaluating progress of the Future of Flight Action Plan - next steps for drone policy - strategies for enabling safe flight
- regulation:
- assessing the potential role of the Regulatory Innovation Office - implementation of the CAA’s roadmap for scalable BVLOS use - next steps for BVLOS regulation
- discussing the CAA’s SORA update and Pilot Competence Scheme - lessons learned from international case studies
- investment:
- evaluating existing investment commitments for the industry - understanding barriers to further investment - status of the Future Flight Challenge funding
- infrastructure requirements for the industry - priorities for supporting new entrants and smaller industry players
- innovation: priorities for the industry and regulation to facilitate greater innovation - tackling barriers to development and commercialisation - exploring future drone applications
- safety: streamlining regulation whilst maintaining safety - routes to an integrated airspace - the role of stakeholders in promoting safety - implications of drone use on infrastructure inspection and security
- airspace: implications of airspace modernisation strategy for drone use - industry needs from a UK Airspace Design Service
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include officials from DSIT; Dstl; Defra; MOD; DfT; DBT; HSE; MCA; MAA; NCA; UKSA; Home Office; and the Welsh Government.
