Cornish drone testing facility first in UK to gain major accreditation
The National Drone Hub in Cornwall, built by WholeShip Ltd, is now the first Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) accredited test and evaluation site for drones, marking a key step forward in the UK's autonomous aviation sector.
Located on a 320-hectare Ministry of Defence airfield, the site offers access to more than 8,000 square kilometres of segregated airspace and is operated in partnership with the Royal Navy.
The CAA accreditation is expected to speed up approval times for manufacturers, allowing them to test air systems more quickly in a secure environment.
Lord David Willetts said: "WholeShip's National Drone Hub brings together industry, government, academia and regulators, providing a unique opportunity to inform regulatory change that keeps pace with technology and accelerates the adoption of autonomy in the UK."
The site supports the development of autonomous systems for both civil and military applications, making it one of the largest drone testing facilities in Europe.
Lord John Hutton, chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum, said: "WholeShip's National Drone Hub is a powerful example of how the UK can lead in emerging technologies through bold collaboration and forward-thinking regulation.
"By bringing together industry, academia, government and the regulator in one place, the Hub is accelerating real-world innovation while upholding the highest standards of safety and compliance."
Sophie O'Sullivan, director of future safety and innovation at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, described the site as an "important milestone" for the industry.
She said: "WholeShip's National Drone Hub has become the first pre-assessed test site in the UK, an important milestone.
"Part of our effort to enable safer, more efficient testing of drones.
"By choosing to test their drone in a pre-assessed site, operators benefit from a simpler, expedited approvals process."
The National Drone Hub recently hosted a visit from Lord Willetts and Lord Hutton, who saw first-hand how the facility is helping to drive collaboration across industry, government and academia.
The CAA accreditation further strengthens the hub's role as a key part of the UK's growing ecosystem for autonomous aviation.
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