The Skyfarer and Medical Logistics UK Trial was a pioneering initiative, marking the UK's first overland medical delivery trial utilising drones. This project established a drone ‘corridor’ between two NHS hospitals to validate the feasibility of near-term medical drone deliveries. The 32km corridor connected University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust and the Rugby NHS Trust. Over 1,189km of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights were conducted, covering a distance equivalent to flying from London to Northern Africa. All flights were completed without any faults or failures. The long-term objective of this trial is to demonstrate how drones could alleviate the growing logistical pressures faced by the UK healthcare system, particularly in meeting time-sensitive medical supply and sample delivery demands. This trial represents the first stage of our partnership in integrating medical drone delivery into the daily logistics infrastructure, ultimately supporting the NHS across the UK. Find out more here

In 2023, the Skyfarer Flight Operations Team embarked on a Trade Mission to The Gambia to collaborate with partners Riders for Health. During this mission, we engaged with the Ministry of Health, The Gambia Armed Forces, and The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the safe adoption of drone technology in the country. We conducted multiple demonstrations and trial flights with live vaccines, all of which were fully successful. The primary focus of this Trade Mission was to enhance Riders for Health's traditional methods by incorporating drone technology. This advancement aims to ensure the faster transport of urgent vaccines, drugs, supplies, and blood samples, thereby enabling quicker and more effective treatment of patients. This initiative is particularly crucial in The Gambia's diverse landscape, where traditional means of transport often cannot reach certain locations. Find out more here.

Securing our first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) approval was a significant milestone for Skyfarer. It enabled us to conduct extensive flight operations at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre, testing our procedures and capturing critical data. This approval, achieved after two years of regulatory efforts, allows us to explore the vast potential of commercial drones for societal benefits. Our successful flights, including a 160km run, mark a crucial step toward integrating drones into routine logistics, supporting the NHS, and driving innovation in aerospace technology. Find out more here.

In 2023, we established the UK’s first operational hub-centric network, supporting the Medical Logistics UK Corridor. Our hub connects NHS hospitals in Coventry and Rugby through a 32km drone corridor, ensuring efficient medical deliveries as well as serving a range of business under our Infinite Services banner in a radius of 40kms around the hub. This network enables businesses to leverage regulated, cost-effective drone operations for various needs, from product delivery to surveillance. By 2030, we aim to expand to 20 hubs nationwide, revolutionising logistics with faster, sustainable solutions. The Flight Ops room enables us to operate the drones remotely from one location thanks to our BVLOS approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Find out more here.

In partnership with key project consortiums, we at Skyfarer are proud to be part of launching the world’s first drone superhighway. This 165-mile corridor, connecting Coventry, Rugby, Cambridge, Oxford, Reading, and Milton Keynes, enables Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations at scale. Our work includes testing detect-and-avoid technologies to ensure safe drone navigation in shared airspace. This project aims to enhance medical logistics, emergency services, and infrastructure inspection, ultimately transforming logistics and benefiting society. Find out more here.

During a stakeholder engagement day, members of the Birmingham Transplant Sports team expressed positive perceptions of our medical delivery drones. They highlighted the potential for drones to drastically improve the speed and reliability of transporting vital medical supplies, such as organs for transplantation. Whilst the Skyfarer team members emphasised how this innovation could save lives by ensuring timely deliveries, especially in urgent situations, the stakeholders were able to provide their feedback and perceptions of the concepts from an end user perspective. Find out more here.