Next steps for the UK drone industry – policy, regulation, investment, growth and innovation

This conference will examine the future of the UK drone industry and priorities for supporting innovation and growth in the sector.

Stakeholders and policymakers will discuss next steps for policy and regulation, including the implementation of the Civil Aviation Authority’s plan to deliver scalable and routine BVLOS drone operations by 2028, looking at priorities for the demonstration phase moving into 2025.

Delegates will assess implications of proposed airspace modernisation for drone use, in light of the ongoing consultation by the CAA and DfT into the creation, scope and funding of a UK Airspace Design Service.

The agenda also looks into progress of the DfT’s UK Future of Flight Action Plan, including priorities for the Government, CAA and industry in achieving strategic outcomes, with discussion on developing of legal and regulatory frameworks and the way forward for testing emerging use-cases.

Sessions will explore priorities for the Regulatory Innovation Office and its role in supporting innovation in the sector, including approaches for both industry and regulatory bodies to enable wider commercialisation and drone use-cases. We also expect discussion on challenges related to investment and innovation within the drone sector, exploring strategies to develop a more supportive investment climate, including the future of UKRI’s Future Flight Challenge initiative, alongside strategies for supporting investor confidence. The way forward for promoting safety and public acceptance will also be discussed.

We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Sophie O’Sullivan, Director, Future Flight Programme, CAA; Simon Masters, Deputy Challenge Director, Future Flight, Innovate UK; Robert Garbett, Chief Executive, Drone Major; Dave Pankhurst, Director, Drones, BT; and Lewis Dickinson, Head, Flight Operations, Skyports.

Overall, areas for discussion include:

• policy: evaluating progress of the Future of Flight Action Plan – next steps for drone policy – strategies for enabling safe flight
• regulation:
  • assessing the potential role of the Regulatory Innovation Office – implementation of the CAA’s roadmap for scalable BVLOS use – next steps for BVLOS regulation
  • discussing the CAA’s SORA update and Pilot Competence Scheme – lessons learned from international case studies
• investment:
  • evaluating existing investment commitments for the industry – understanding barriers to further investment – status of the Future Flight Challenge funding
  • infrastructure requirements for the industry – priorities for supporting new entrants and smaller industry players
• innovation: priorities for the industry and regulation to facilitate greater innovation – tackling barriers to development and commercialisation – exploring future drone applications
• safety: streamlining regulation whilst maintaining safety – routes to an integrated airspace – the role of stakeholders in promoting safety – implications of drone use on infrastructure inspection and security
• airspace: implications of airspace modernisation strategy for drone use – industry needs from a UK Airspace Design Service

All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from DSIT; Dstl; Defra; MOD; DfT; HSE; MCA; MAA; NCA; UKSA; Home Office; and the Welsh Government.

The agenda:

Draft subject to change

Relevant developments:

–          UK Future of Flight Action Plan – published by DfT in March 2024, outlining plans to manage the development and regulation of drone technologies

–          Delivering Scalable UAS BVLOS in the Specific Category – strategy published by CAA in September 2024

–          Regulatory Innovation Office – launched by DSIT in October 2024, aiming to reduce red tape and improve access to new technologies, including drones

–          Unmanned Aircraft Operations in an Atypical Air Environment: Policy Concept – published by CAA in December 2024, aiming to relax restrictions that prevent most drones from flying beyond line of sight

–          Special Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) Update – guidance published by CAA in July 2024, with plans to provide a pathway for BVLOS use in non-segregated airspace originally due for publication in Q4 of 2024

–          Remote Pilot Competence scheme – guidance updated in July 2024 with an initial consultation opened in July 2023, on plans to expand existing competency certificates for drone use

–          Airspace modernisation: consultation on a UK Airspace Design Service – closed by DfT and CAA in December 2024, aiming to improve system capacity and resilience to disruption

–          UK’s first permanent vertiport unveiled at Snowdonia Aerospace Centre – announced by ARPAS-UK in July 2024

–          NHS delivery drones take flight offering faster and greener patient care – announced by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in November 2024

–          UK Watchdog approves BVLOS drone flights for security operations: Gamechanger – Drone Life reporting in January 2025, with the CAA granting Heliguy approval to begin BLVOS flights using a drone-in-a-box [DIAB] system

–          Chancellor calls on watchdog bosses to tear down regulatory barriers that hold back growth – HM Treasury announcement in January 2025, citing promising areas, including innovative drone solutions

–          Amazon picks UK location for deliveries by drone – BBC reporting in January 2025, with clearance from the CAA still required before operation in Darlington

Booking arrangements:

To book places, please use our online booking form.

Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions below.

You can also pay in advance by credit card on 01344 864796. If advance credit card payment is not possible, please let me know and we may be able to make other arrangements.

Options and charges are as follows:

• access to Next steps for the UK drone industry – policy, regulation, investment, growth and innovation (plus a permanent record of proceedings) is £299 +VAT per delegate
• concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded individuals and those in similar circumstances are £140 +VAT. Please be sure to apply for this at the time of booking.

If you find the charge for places a barrier to attending:

• please let me know as concessionary and complimentary places are made available in certain circumstances
• typical eligibility: individual service users or carers not supported by or part of an organisation, full-time students, unemployed and fully retired people with no paid work, and small charities
• concessions are not offered to businesses, individuals funded by an organisation, or larger charities/not-for-profit companies.

Please note terms and conditions below (including cancellation charges).

Can’t attend on the day? Watch on-demand:

You can pre-order a recording of this conference via our website to watch on-demand when it suits you. The digital packs include:

• a full video recording of the conference as it took place, with all presentations, Q&A sessions, and remarks from chairs
• an automated transcript of the conference
• copies of the slides used to accompany speaker presentations (subject to permission)
• access to on-the-day materials, including speaker biographies, attendee lists and the agenda