Collaboration goals to create a mixed civilian and army drone check surroundings
Spaceport Cornwall has launched a brand new challenge with the Nationwide Drone Hub to create a singular testing surroundings for uncrewed aerial methods in the UK. The collaboration brings collectively civilian airport infrastructure and military-supported airspace to assist superior drone testing.
The challenge is predicated in Cornwall and combines present capabilities on the Nationwide Drone Hub with new testing exercise at Cornwall Airport Newquay. Work on the challenge started on December 15, 2025.
Increasing Drone Testing Capabilities in Cornwall
The Nationwide Drone Hub is operated by WholeShip in partnership with the Royal Navy. It’s the UK’s first Civil Aviation Authority accredited drone check website. The power gives entry to a 320-hectare website with 4 runways and greater than 8,000 sq. kilometres of segregated maritime airspace off the Lizard Peninsula.
That airspace already helps testing and analysis of drone methods in a managed setting. The brand new collaboration will broaden these capabilities by including Cornwall Airport Newquay to the check surroundings.
As a part of the challenge, the crew is working to determine a Particular Operations Danger Evaluation, often known as a SORA, at Newquay. A SORA is a security framework required for complicated drone operations, together with flights past visible line of sight.
Supporting BVLOS and Excessive-Pace Operations
The challenge is supported by funding from Cornwall House Cluster. If authorised, it might allow entry to segregated airspace off the north coast of Cornwall, extending from Newquay.
This airspace would assist Past Visible Line of Sight testing and analysis. It might additionally enable operations involving bigger and quicker uncrewed automobiles. These embrace high-speed methods and uncrewed platforms able to supersonic journey.
Collectively, the 2 websites would type a linked testing surroundings. The objective is to assist improvement and certification of next-generation autonomous methods, from small drones to superior uncrewed automobiles.
Amy Smith, Managing Director at Cornwall Airport Newquay, mentioned: “This joint challenge combines the experience of two pioneering aerospace groups in Cornwall delivering nationwide firsts in house and future air methods.”
Regional and Nationwide Aerospace Focus
Companions concerned say the challenge additionally helps broader regional objectives. Helen Stembridge, Director at Wholeship, mentioned: “We’re delighted to be working with Spaceport Cornwall/Cornwall Airport Newquay to assist and develop this twin use alternative to learn the airport, the county and the area.”
Gail Eastaugh, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Cornwall House Cluster, highlighted the broader influence. She mentioned: “This collaboration provides an unimaginable alternative for us to additional cement Cornwall’s place on the forefront of UK house and aerospace operations, and Cornwall House Cluster is proud to assist this groundbreaking challenge.”
The challenge aligns with Spaceport Cornwall’s wider mission to assist future air and house methods. That mission consists of offering versatile, low-cost, and protected entry to house whereas supporting aerospace innovation. It additionally displays Cornwall’s rising position as a hub for superior aerospace know-how and operations.
Learn extra:
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone business and the regulatory surroundings for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the business drone house and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the business. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand new applied sciences.
For drone business consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife right here.
