British police to test drone flights beyond the line of sight

British police will experiment with uncrewed aircraft as part of new drone trials in the UK.

Britain’s aviation regulator has backed the project, which the National Police Air Service (NPAS) will lead.

The tests will focus on flights “beyond the visual line of sight” — meaning the operators won’t see their drones. The police will instead rely on tech for navigation, control, and detection of other aircraft. 

NPAS has high hopes for the approach. In 2021, the service launched a “Futures and Innovation Team” to explore flights beyond the visual line of sight. The team envisions the drones joining a blended aircraft fleet. 

NPAS has not yet revealed the intended use cases. But police and crime commissioners have shared big plans for drones.

In November, commissioner Donna Jones claimed that around a third of forces want uncrewed aircraft to replace helicopters.

“Drones are much quicker,” she said. “They’re much more agile. The technology now is improving incredibly, and police and crime commissioners have been pushing strongly to the Home Office that drones should be a very viable alternative.”

The new tests will scrutinise their autonomous capabilities.

A further five projects will also join the trials. The biggest name among them is Amazon Prime Air, which will explore drone deliveries.

The other trials will explore air traffic control, medical deliveries, offshore wind inspections, and flights from the Scottish archipelago Orkney.

Sophie O’Sullivan, the Civil Aviation Authority’s director of future flight, described the trials as “a significant step” for uncrewed aircraft.

“Our goal is to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality” she said.