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the two key issues so I set about devising a solution to overcome this and Digital Tethering™, which has a stack of navigational solutions, both GPS and non-GPS together with a certifiable( to DO178) software based Safety Assurance System( SAS), was born. I did enter this idea into the first Future Flight challenge, but the idea was rejected so I pursued other avenues and eventually presented the concept to Network Rail in 2022. The idea was well received, and we were contracted to run a proof-of-concept trial in July 2023.
From there, the hard work of turning a concept into reality and the struggle to get the Civil Aviation Authority( CAA) to understand and accept the concept began. The CAA liked the idea and was supportive and professional, but this was a first of a kind, so a great deal of caution was exercised in assessing the operational Safety Case( OSC). In May 2024, we were awarded a limited Operational Authority( OA) to fly two kilometres Beyond Visual Line of Sight( mitigated) BVLOS( M) from Wolverhampton station, which meant that we had to have observers every 500 metres on every flight and finally, following what seemed like an age, the CAA accepted our safety arguments and a full BVLOS OA was issued in May 2025. This represents a monumental move to the commercialisation of the UK drone industry for UAS operations in highly complex urban areas, in close proximity to Critical National Infrastructure( CNI) and uninvolved members of the public.
How do you see this approval transforming the way drones are used in construction and civil engineering, particularly on largescale infrastructure projects like highways, rail, or energy networks? The Digital Tethering™ concept has the potential to provide a much needed‘ Business as Usual’ solution to a number of
challenges facing Network Rail and other CNI organisations, such as trespass management and security, and inspections and asset management. We are looking forward to the next phase of work with Network Rail during which we will demonstrate and challenge the system to see what the possible applications are while we evolve the technology. Beyond that, we hope that Network Rail will work with us to scale the system to relevant areas of the network.
Alongside this, we are now working with several CNI organisations here in the UK and in Europe to trial new applications in atypical and low level non-segregated airspace. Our aim has always been to create a solution which can be used on any reasonably sized UAS by any company( under licence) and we
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