Latest news with #SimonMuderack
Cision Canada
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
University of Alaska Fairbanks purchases Windracers ULTRAs to test resupply delivery
LONDON, May 6, 2025 /CNW/ -- Windracers, pioneering provider of the low-cost self-flying cargo aircraft ULTRA™, announced today that it has contracted to provide the University of Alaska Fairbanks two (2) Windracers ULTRA MK1 aircraft for use in developing best practices for delivering to remote communities in Alaska. Featuring the Alaska Center for UAS Integration (ACUASI), one of the top drone research programs in the United States, University of Alaska Fairbanks is an international centre for research, education and the arts, emphasizing the circumpolar North and its diverse peoples. "Air cargo delivery for resupply of our remote communities is vital to life in Alaska so we purchased Windracers ULTRA to better test the possibilities," ACUASI Director Cathy Cahill said. "We need aircraft such as Windracers that can cover long distances, carry the weight of emergency supplies and do so reliably, regularly and safely. Our goal is to create an environment for the commercial sector in which UAVs, including self-flying cargo aircraft, become ubiquitous in Alaska and beyond." Windracers CEO Simon Muderack said the company's aircraft will serve ACUASI well. "Windracers is immensely proud that UAF has chosen ULTRA to meet their need for air cargo delivery services that can reliably fly in difficult weather and at a much lower cost to support very isolated communities with everyday essentials," Muderack said. "Windracers ULTRA is uniquely suited to support ACUASI through its multi-mission capability and its polar pedigree from Antarctic mission experience in January 2024," he said. "The Windracers team looks forward to growing partnership with UAF and ACUASI, delivering on their mission of testing supply to remote communities in Alaska." With a payload of over 100kg and a range of up to 1,000 km, Windracers ULTRA is the world's most accomplished long-distance heavily-lift drone available today and is dual-use for civilian and defence purposes. Windracers ULTRA has flown countless beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions for customers in support the most diverse set of use cases, including troop resupply and aerial reconnaissance in Ukraine, aerial geological and wildlife survey in the Antarctic, parcel delivery to islands off the Scottish and English coasts and parachute resupply of medical supplies in Africa.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ospreys and Scarlets post financial losses
Ospreys and Scarlets have both recorded financial losses of more than £2m for the second year in a of the United Rugby Championship derby between the sides, the Welsh rugby regional rivals have each published their latest accounts, taking in the 2023-24 results for the year end June 2024 saw the Scarlets post a loss of £2.59m, down from £2.91m the previous recorded a £2.18m loss, slightly up on the previous year's figures of £ described the year as challenging. Ospreys look to ground move for revenue boost Ospreys used the accounts to underline the need to move to a redeveloped St Helens as a means of achieving financial Swansea-based side – who reached the play-offs of the United Rugby Championship and the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup in a successful 23-24 campaign on the field – saw turnover dropping 15% from £11.59m to £ was also a 20% drop in direct funding from the Welsh Rugby Union from £6.99m to £5.54m, as well as a reduction in competition income to £1.93m compared to the £2.3m earned in the 22/23 season where they competed in the Champions loss came despite the wage bill for coaching staff and playing squad being reduced by £2m to £6.75mChief Executive Lance Bradley revealed in the year plans to leave the Stadium, with St Helen's later chosen as the preferred site with pledges of investment from the local council."The move to our own stadium will significantly increase our revenue opportunities, especially in the areas of sponsorship, ticketing hospitality and non-match day activities. This will drive us closer to our aim of financial stability," Ospreys stated in the the time of the accounts, Ospreys had £3.3m owed in loans – although the majority of that is a long-term financing from the WRU repayable over 19 years. Scarlets grateful of financial support The repayment and structure of loans to all four regions have been included in discussions of a new five-year Professional Rugby Agreement that has been agreed in the Scarlets' accounts, chairman Simon Muderack said: "We have worked the with the WRU on a new funding agreement that will relieve the regional clubs of a substantial portion of the Covid-related debt that has previously burdened us, alongside a more sustainable funding model that provides greater long-term financial certainty."The Scarlets' borrowings stood at more than £10m in their accounts for year ending June 2024, including £7.955m owed to the WRU and £2.6m to Carmarthenshire County Council – the latter having been granted a 15-year extension last region described the season – where they finished 13th in the URC and did not reach the knock-out stages of Europe – as one that "fell short of our objectives and ambitions".Turnover dropped from £12.79m to £11.34m while competition income and ticketing also Parc y Scarlets wage bill was cut 15% from £9.69m to £8.24m with the WRU funding also cut – a figure that was reduced again for the current season to £ did manage to cut the size of the losses by 11%, but Muderack added the continued support of benefactors and directors "have provided stability without which the club simply could not continue to operate".Scarlets host the Ospreys in the URC on Saturday with five points separating the sides with five rounds meet again next weekend on Sunday 6 April in Swansea in the last-16 of the Challenge Cup.
