The team behind the initiative have been working together to develop their concept of ‘Shared Airspace Zones’ – permanent areas of airspace where both manned and unmanned traffic can integrate safely, and where commercial drone operations can be conducted beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Led by respected professor Jim Scanlan (as part of Solent Transport’s ‘Future Transport Zones’ – Drones project), the team is comprised of Neuron Innovations, who have developed a ground based detect and avoid network; Windracers, whose ULTRA UAV’s are being used in humanitarian aid worldwide; and Distributed Avionics who specialise in flight control systems. The team believe that this work will help create a blueprint for how BVLOS drone operations could be rolled out across the UK.