Your Second March Update

Manna teams up with Just Eat

Moonrock client Manna Air Delivery, which specialises in drone delivery, took a huge step forward this month by partnering with food delivery network Just Eat.

Through the partnership, customers will have the choice to receive their orders from participating partners via drones, which will be deployed from local delivery hubs operated by Manna. Once the food has been loaded onto the drone, customers will receive their orders in as little as three minutes.

This service is already available in Dublin, Ireland, with the aim to roll this out internationally to more markets.

Joerg Gerbig, Chief Operating Officer, Just Eat Takeaway.com, commented: “Through the partnership, customers will have the choice to receive their orders from participating partners via drones, which will be deployed from local delivery hubs operated by Manna. Once the food has been loaded onto the drone, customers will receive their orders in as little as three minutes.”

Joby and Virgin Atlantic announce UK air taxi partnership

Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, has announced a partnership with airline Virgin Atlantic that will see the companies work together on the launch of Joby’s revolutionary air taxi service in the UK.

The partnership builds on an existing agreement between Joby and Delta Air Lines – which owns a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic – to launch service in the US and UK, and brings together brands committed to innovation, customer service and challenging the status quo.

Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph and the partnership means Virgin Atlantic customers will be able to reserve a seat on Joby’s aircraft through Virgin Atlantic’s app, website and other channels.

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby, commented: “Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to delighting its customers reflects our experience with Delta and we couldn’t imagine a better partner to work within the UK. Together, we are committed to delivering faster options for mobility across the country, including for Virgin Atlantic and Delta [which has a large shareholding in Virgin Atlantic] customers as they head to the airport or move between UK towns and cities.”

Milestone for Skyfly with VCA flight

Skyfly’s Axe VCA (vertically capable aircraft) has completed the second of three key milestones in its flight testing programme, with the aircraft now having undertaken its first wing-borne test flights.

In recent days, the Axe has conducted wing-borne flights of up to 17 minutes in duration at heights of up to 2,500ft. The aircraft was found to be stable and controllable in all flight conditions, with benign stall characteristics.

Michael Thompson, CEO, Skyfly, which is a client of Moonrock, said: “During our latest test flights, The Axe performed beyond expectations in forward flight, showcasing exceptional efficiency, stability and stall-handling characteristics. Its intuitive design ensures that even inexperienced pilots can fly it with ease.

“Most importantly, these outstanding flight qualities mean that transition tests, to and from the hover, can now happen much faster than anticipated — without the need for any modifications or design changes. This has all been possible thanks to our incredible team who have put in hours of hard work. A special mention has to go to Dr William Brooks, our CTO and Chief Designer and Test Pilot who has designed a truly amazing aircraft – this is a testament to his 40+ years in designing, building and testing aircraft.”

Skyports flagged by Financial Times as Amazon zones in on drone deliveries

Our long-standing client Skyports has been highlighted by the Financial Times thanks to its partnership with Royal Mail. It’s mail delivery via drone in the Orkney Islands, Scotland is described as a “logistical feat”.

The article also explores Amazon’s plans for drone delivery in the UK. Currently the retailer is awaiting permission to begin a drone delivery service in Darlington. According to the article, Amazon is targeting the delivery of 500mn packages a year worldwide by drone by the end of 2029.

Survey highlights show widespread interest in piloted air taxis

Honeywell today released new survey results showing nearly all U.S. airline fliers (98%) would consider taking an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, as part of their travel journey. The survey of 1,000 US-based adult fliers also found that almost 8 out of 10 respondents would travel more often if they could take an air taxi to the airport (79%).

Across travellers, Honeywell researchers determined that the possibility of reducing overall travel time was the biggest factor in their interest. Air taxis are seen as a much faster way to transition to and from busy airports or between nearby cities, with almost half of respondents citing “not having to sit in traffic” as a key motivator (47%). Other factors include ease of use and convenience (61%), cost (61%), minimal environmental impact (44%) and the fun factor – with “novelty/curiosity” cited by 44% of fliers.

“Anyone who travels regularly knows that the journey to and from the airport often adds unwelcome time, cost and hassle to the overall trip,” said Dave Shilliday, vice president and general manager of Advanced Air Mobility at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Air taxis can offer a safe, fast and innovative alternative to traditional transport methods. Our research indicates significant appetite for such services already exists – but like any new technology, consumers need to feel confident about safety, cost and reliability. Air taxis may sound like science fiction to some, but we’re not far from a time when they could become a regular part of travel.”

CAA RPAS service charge increase

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed increased for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for 2025/26, prompting a disappointed reaction from trade body ARPAS-UK.

The trade association had argued against a significant increase to RPAS fees.

The body commented: “ARPAS-UK is disappointed with the CAA’s decision to proceed with significant increases to the service charges for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for 2025/26, despite our calls for moderation and fairness.

“Although we have had several exchanges with the CAA on the matter of the Charges, it is disappointing that these significant increases were confirmed without accompanying explanations or detailed rationale. Clear communication about the cost drivers and the fee evolution is essential to maintain trust and encourage compliance across the sector. Transparency is also vital to give operators the visibility they need on how these charges are structured and what additional changes may lie ahead.”

ECITB drone training course offered by first Scottish college

ARPAS-UK reported that it’s member Forth Valley College (FVC) has launched Scotland’s first ECITB Industrial Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations: Foundation Training Course, “marking a significant advancement in industrial drone training”.

Chris Mann, ECITB’s Director of Learning and Assurance, told ARPAS-UK: “The use of drones across industrial settings, particularly for maintenance inspections, offers real benefits to industry, including increased worker safety and efficiency as well as a reduction in asset downtime.” ​

Zak Stark, FVC’s Head of Commercial Training, added: “As industry demand for drone technology continues to grow, this course ensures that companies have access to an industry benchmark for pilot competency and subsequently highly skilled pilots who can meet stringent operational and safety standards.” ​