Amazon Prime Air will trial drone deliveries in the UK under a new scheme by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Amazon is one of six projects selected by the UK civil aviation regulator, which also includes trials for uncrewed aircraft used in policing, sustainable aviation testing, medical deliveries, and the inspection of offshore windfarms.

The authority says the move comes as it makes progress on plans to "modernise UK airspace" and enable integration of new technology the skies.

"It's crucial for operators like us to have clear regulatory requirements in order to bring and scale new technologies, such as drone delivery, to customers in the UK," said David Carbon, vice president & general manager of Amazon Prime Air. "We appreciate the CAA’s effort to partner with us to help bring clarity to the regulations that support commercial drone delivery.”

The trials aim to safely integrate drones flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) of their operator into UK airspace in order to make drone flying an everyday reality.

BVLOS flights will be carried out at distances beyond the flyer’s ability to see the drone.

These flights use advanced technologies for navigation, control and to detect other aircraft.

The regulator said the trials will gather key safety data, such as how drones detect and avoid other aircraft and the electronic signals they can send to be able to be visible to other airspace users and air traffic control.

The data will be used to support the development of policy and regulations so that drone flights can be "fully integrated" with other airspace users.

“These innovative trials mark a significant step forward in integrating drones safely into UK airspace," said Sophie O’Sullivan, director of future of flight at the UK Civil Aviation Authority. "By supporting projects ranging from consumer deliveries to critical infrastructure inspections, we are gathering essential data to shape future policies and regulations."

She continued: “Our goal is to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality, contributing to the modernisation of UK airspace and the incorporation of new technology into our skies.”

Amazon also this week launched a new “state-of-the-art” robotics fulfilment centre at Gateway45, Leeds.

The new warehouse, which uses advanced technology across three floors of Amazon Robotics to stow, pick and ship customer orders, will employ more than 2,000 people by November.

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