December Update

Coventry to become a drone-ready city through the Urban Ascent project

Coventry City Council has launched the Urban Ascent project to prepare the city for a future of safe, sustainable aerial drone mobility.

The project looks at how drones can enhance services in medical logistics, emergency response, infrastructure inspection, and urban air taxi preparation.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: “Coventry is already leading the way when it comes to drones and their future use. This project will see us take the next step in aligning technology with public needs.”

Read more from Coventry City Council

Lack of airspace awareness is creating problems for airports in Europe

A flurry of drone-related security incidents at European airports, including in Copenhagen, Munich, and Oslo, has highlighted the need for greater low-altitude airspace awareness across the continent, according to a report by DroneLife.

Speaking to DroneLife, aviation security experts warned that the situation is leading to fear and misunderstandings.

Read the article on DroneLife

AutoFlight unveils zero-carbon water vetiport

AutoFlight Aviation Technology has unveiled what it claims is the world’s first “integrated sea-air low-altitude economy solution”.

The system connects a zero-carbon water vetiport with Autoflight’s eVTOL aircraft. The intention is to scale eVTOL infrastructure across vast water areas, addressing challenges such as difficult site selection, slow construction timelines, and complex take-off and landing operations.

Read the announcement from AutoFlight

Archer to buy Los Angeles airport and turn it into an electric air taxi hub 

Archer Aviation has made a deal to buy Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles for $126m. 

The airport will serve as Archer’s operational hub for its planned LA air taxi network, in addition to being a test bed for the AI-powered aviation technologies it is developing and looking to deploy with its airline and tech partners. 

Read more from Archer Aviation

Behind the scenes of food delivery by drone in Finland 

Food delivery by drone is now a possibility in Finland, giving those who live near Helsinki access to more restaurants.

Entrepreneur Ville Leppälä recently took TechCrunch behind the scenes of a three-party partnership between Irish drone delivery company Manna, DoorDash-owned food delivery platform Wolt, and his own startup, Huuva.

Read the full story on TechCrunch

Amazon under federal investigation after delivery drone snaps internet cable in Texas

The Federal Aviation Administration in the US has launched a probe into Amazon after one of the tech giant’s delivery drones cut an internet cable in Texas on 18 November, as reported by CNBC. 

The incident followed the completion of a delivery and involved one of the drone’s propellers becoming tangled in an internet cable.

Read the article on CNBC

CAA approves national test site for uncrewed and autonomous air systems

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has officially recognised Satellite Applications Catapult’s Drone Test and Development Centre (DTDC) as a national test and evaluation site for uncrewed and autonomous air systems in the UK. 

The test site will be used for safe development, validation and adoption of next-generation drone technologies.  

Richard Lowe, chief technical officer at Satellite Applications Catapult, said: “Satellite navigation, communications and mapping all play a role in delivering new UAV capabilities. With this recognition as a CAA pre-assessed test site, we are helping innovative businesses to get to market faster.”

BT showcases first long-range hydrogen-powered drone flight on demo day 

BT Group has unveiled what it said is the first hydrogen-powered drone flight operating Beyond Visual Line of Sight at a recent Drone Connect demo day in Snowdonia. 

Working with partners Skyfarer, uAvionix, Intelligent Energy and LEO Technology, BT combined cellular, satellite, and aviation-protected C-Band connectivity into a single command-and-control link to ensure the drone can remain under control even in remote areas where regular networks can’t reach.

Read the whole story on BT’s website

ARPAS-UK urges caution and calls for fact-based reporting on drones

ARPAS-UK has published a statement following the recent reports of apparent drone sightings across Europe which have brought flight operations to a stop or caused disruption to airfield/airport operations (as reported by DroneLife above). 

It urged the press and commentators to wait for verified facts before making unsupported claims.

Read the full statement on ARPAS-UK

Moonrock announcements:

It has been a busy period for Moonrock MD and founder, Simon Ritterband. In mid-November Ritterband attended Aerial Cities in Dublin, where he was one of the speakers taking part in a lively and engaging panel session on “Data-Driven Safety in Drone Operations” alongside a number of thought leaders from the industry.

Most recently, he was at Dubai Airshow, where Moonrock was a proud sponsor of the Advanced Air Mobility Pavilion, alongside innovators such as Archer, Joby, Skyports and Windracers. Ritterband joined PwC Middle East’s panel discussion on AAM and the current demand shaping this market.

Sharing his thoughts on Dubai Airshow, Simon Ritterband said: “The energy at the show was palpable. Innovation wasn’t just a theme, it was everywhere. The UAE gets it. High population density, vast geography, willing regulators, and strong financial backing make it fertile ground for AAM. The UK/EEA has great talent and ambition, but progress feels cautious compared to the pace we’re seeing in the Middle East. Regulation needs to keep evolving so innovation can thrive.”