Skyports
{{Short description|British UAV manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Skyports Drone Services
| industry = Drone delivery
| genre = Delivery drone
| founded = 2018
| founder = Duncan Walker & Simon Morrish
| hq_location_city = London
| hq_location_country = England
| area_served = Ireland, Scotland, United States, Singapore
| website = {{URL|https://skyportsdroneservices.com}}
}}
Skyports Drone Services is a British provider and operator of eVTOL drones for cargo delivery, survey and monitoring.{{cite news |last1=Alcock |first1=Charles |title=Drone Flight Trials in Cornwall Could Build a Template for a Nationwide UK Network |url=https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-09/drone-flight-trials-cornwall-could-build-template-nationwide-uk-network |work=FutureFlight}} The company became famous for using drones to carry Covid-19 samples and test kits in some parts of Argyll and Bute which has been described as a UK first.{{cite news |title=Covid in Scotland: Drones to carry Covid samples |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-56154503 |work=BBC News |date=23 February 2021}} It also received UK Government funding for establishing service and training facility at Argyll and Bute Council-owned Oban Airport.{{cite news |title=Council welcomes funding lift off for Oban drones project |url=https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/news/2022/jan/council-welcomes-funding-lift-oban-drones-project |work=Argyll and Bute Council |publisher=www.argyll-bute.gov.uk |date=27 January 2022 |language=en}}
The company was founded in 2018 by Duncan Walker & Simon Morrish.{{cite news |title=Progressing toward eVTOL flight demonstrations at 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games |url=https://verticalmag.com/features/progressing-toward-evtol-flight-demonstrations-at-2024-olympic-and-paralympic-games/ |work=Vertical magazine}} It is headquartered in London with additional offices located in Singapore, Dubai, Columbia and Japan.{{cite news |title=Air taxi startup Skyports opens Japan office ahead of 2025 launch |url=https://www.uktech.news/mobility/skyports-opens-japan-office-20221017 |work=UK Tech News |date=17 October 2022}}
In 2020 Skyports Drone Services was authorised by the Scottish government to carry Covid-19 kits from Mull, Clachan-Seil and Lochgilphead to Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban.{{cite news |title=Drone deliveries soar in rural Scotland during coronavirus outbreak |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/29/drone-deliveries-soar-in-rural-scotland-during-coronavirus-outbreak |work=The Guardian}} It was jointly funded by the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency.{{cite news |title=Drones base proposed for Oban Airport |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-60214840 |work=bbc.com}}
The Royal Mail partnered with it to launch a postal service using drones in Scotland.{{cite news |last1=Crumley |first1=Bruce |title=UK's Royal Mail to deliver post by drone on 50 new routes |url=https://dronedj.com/2022/05/12/uks-royal-mail-to-deliver-post-by-drone-on-50-new-routes/ |work=DroneDJ |date=12 May 2022}} In 2023, they announced a Hub Operator Program for participants in Colombia, UAE, the UK, Kenya, and Korea.{{cite news |title=Skyports Drone Services Announces Major Hiring Initiative for Global Expansion |url=https://uasweekly.com/2023/01/16/skyports-drone-services-announces-major-hiring-initiative-for-global-expansion/ |work=UASweekly.com |date=16 January 2023}}
Operations
- Scotland{{cite news |title=Drone Delivery Trials Begin at Scotland's First Drone Port |url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2022/10/06/drone-delivery-trials-begin-scotlands-first-drone-port/ |work=Avionics International |date=6 October 2022 |language=en}}
- Ireland{{cite news |last1=Gain |first1=Vish |title=Skyports drones to take flight in Ireland after green light from IAA |url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/machines/skysports-drones-ireland-luc-certificate |work=Silicon Republic |date=4 October 2021 |language=en}}
- United States{{cite news |last1=Dedhia |first1=Zinal |title=Cargo drones and regulations: Giving wings to future of logistics |url=https://www.stattimes.com/drones/cargo-drones-and-regulations-giving-wings-to-future-of-logistics-1345013 |work=www.stattimes.com |date=4 April 2022 |language=en}}
- Singapore{{cite news |last1=Auto |first1=Hermes |title=Jurong Port, Skyports to explore cargo delivery operations by drones {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/tech-news/jurong-port-skyports-to-explore-cargo-delivery-operations-by-drones |work=The Straits Times |date=20 May 2022 |language=en}}
Certificates
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) have issued the light UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) operator certificate (LUC) to Skyports Drone Services and recognised across all 31 EASA member countries.{{cite news |title=IAA Aviation Regulator Issues First BVLOS LUC |url=https://www.iaa.ie/news/2021/09/29/iaa-aviation-regulator-issues-first-bvlos-luc |website=www.iaa.ie|publisher=Irish Aviation Authority}} It received Part 107 Waiver to fly UAS BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line Of Sight){{cite news |title=Part 107 Waivers Issued |url=https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/part_107_waivers/waivers_issued/media/107W-2021-02400_Andrew_Giacini_CoW.pdf |work=faa.gov}} and Part 375 Foreign Aircraft Permit in the USA.{{cite web |title=Foreign Air Carrier Fifth Freedom Charter Applications On Hand During Week Ending June 4, 2021 |url=https://downloads.regulations.gov/DOT-OST-2017-0044-0845/content.pdf |publisher=regulations.gov}}
In Singapore, it has received Class 1 Activity Permit for UAS Operations and UA Operator Permit (UOP) to fly BVLOS from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.{{cite news |title=Skyports secures $3.13 million investment from ST Engineering in Singapore|url=https://evtolinsights.com/2022/08/skyports-secures-3-13-million-investment-from-st-engineering/ |work=eVTOL Insights |date=2 August 2022}}
Project
Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services announced the launch of the Orkney I-Port operation, a drone delivery project established in partnership with Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority and Loganair.
Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services have established a daily inter-island mail distribution service between three islands on Orkney. The project will initially operate for three months, with the intent to extend in the future. This is the first UK drone delivery project which can be conducted on a permanent basis under existing regulatory frameworks.{{Cite web |last=Mullan |first=Maggie |date=2023-08-01 |title=Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services launch fully electric drone deliveries in Orkney |url=https://skyportsdroneservices.com/royal-mail-and-skyports-drone-services-launch-fully-electric-drone-deliveries-in-orkney/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Skyports Drone Services |language=en-US}}
Recently, Skyports Drone Services announced Speedbird Aero as new aircraft partner for the Orkney I-Port operation, a drone delivery project established in partnership with Royal Mail, Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority and Loganair. Speedbird Aero has been selected as the latest aircraft partner to join Skyports Drone Services’ world-class drone fleet. The Brazilian drone manufacturer will provide its DLV-2 aircraft for Skyports Drone Services’ global delivery and logistics projects, starting with three months of inter-island delivery flights for Royal Mail for the Orkney I-Port project.{{Cite web |title=Skyports Drone Services' new drone partner makes debut for Royal Mail delivery project |url=https://verticalmag.com/press-releases/skyports-drone-services-new-drone-partner-makes-debut-for-royal-mail-delivery-project/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Vertical Mag |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:2018 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom
Category:Companies based in London
Category:British companies established in 2018
Category:Multinational companies headquartered in the United Kingdom
Category:Privately held companies based in London
Category:Privately held companies of the United Kingdom
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