Scottish region to become UK ‘drone hub’

Argyll and Bute could become a pioneering location for drone technology following a raft of successful trials, it is claimed.

School meals, medication and railway inspections are amongst the services that have been delivered by drones across the region as part of a UK Government programme.

A report is now being prepared on the project in a bid to ensure the technology is introduced in remote islands communities, local councillor John Armour said.

Armour, who is the council’s policy lead for road, transport and amenity services, said: “While discussions are still ongoing with the Civil Aviation Authority, these trials have been extremely valuable in establishing the benefits drones would bring to delivery of services in Argyll and Bute.

“A key aspect of the report involves outlining the benefits and impacts drone services can bring to remote island communities and seeing how this could help the expansion of drone networks within these areas.

“It also enhances the feasibility of establishing a permanent drone base such as the Advanced Air Mobility Hub at Oban Airport, which has been allocated £4m through the Rural Growth Deal programme subject to a successful business case being approved.”

Argyll and Bute Council has been looking into drones to deliver services to remote areas for the past few years. In 2021, the region became the first in the UK to use drones deliver school meals, after partnering with drone specialists Skyports. Following the success of the trial, the council secured a £250,000 fund from the UK Government’s Regulator’s Pioneer Fund, to continue testing the technology’s potential to bridge gaps in services across the west coast of Scotland.

The aim of the programme was to evaluate the feasibility of creating low-density airspace over rural areas that would enable drones to be deployed safely alongside regularly scheduled manned aircraft.

Over the year-long programme, the council worked with partners including Royal Mail and NHS on deliveries of mail, medication to hospitals and equipment between Islay and Jura.

The council’s Roads and Infrastructure Service also arranged trials for use in vegetation management along the River Ba on Mull while Scottish and Southern Electric Networks used the technology for a transmission powerline from Dunoon to Arrochar.

Network Rail also deployed the technology on railway inspections between Taynuilt and Dalmally.

UK Government innovation minister Lord Patrick Vallance said: “From delivering school meals to remote areas to supporting NHS deliveries, these trials show how drones could transform essential services for rural communities.

“By ensuring regulations keep pace with new innovation, the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund is supporting efforts to make the UK a leader in new technologies, like future transport, while improving lives as part of our plan for change.”