For the first time, Royal Mail postmen and women will load and unload drones as part of the latest trial with Skyports and Argyll and Bute Council.
The multirotor drone, which can carry payloads of up to 6kg and is the same one used in Royal Mail’s previous trial in Orkney, will deliver mail between two remote Scottish islands – Islay and Jura.
The drone will transport mail that is usually taken via ferry in a Royal Mail van. But as the weather and geography of the Inner Hebrides can impact the ability to provide an uninterrupted delivery service, it is hoped the use of electric drones for inter-island delivery can improve service.
Additionally, the drone also brings safety improvements, ensuring postal workers can deliver between ports and marinas without risk, as well as emission savings.
This is the sixth time that Royal Mail has trialled drones and the second using Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS) flying, which allows drones to travel further than the standard Visual Line of Sight by making use of ‘trained observers’ along its route. These observers keep the pilot, who is flying the drone remotely, updated on critical information to ensure the drone maintains a safe distance from other air users, structures and any hazards.
Read more: Royal Mail trials fully electric drones in Orkney – could drone deliveries take off?
Chris Paxton, Royal Mail’s head of drones, said: “This drone trial is the latest step in our innovative collaboration with Skyports. Trialling drones allows us to test out new ways of working to support our posties in delivering to the most remote areas of the UK.
“As parcel volumes increase, we are continually looking for new ways to provide a reliable, fast and lower emission service to all our customers no matter where they live.”
In November 2022, the UK Government awarded Argyll and Bute Council a grant of £250,000 via the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund (RPF) to work in partnership with Skyports to conduct a series of trials that will serve as a building block to showcase the potential of drones in enhancing vital public services.
Argyll and Bute Council, in collaboration with Skyports, is supporting organisations like Royal Mail which provide critical services in the area. This collaborative effort aims to demonstrate how these organisations can improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of their operations and better serve customers by implementing electric drone services.
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