Final test flights for future national drone network completed

Courtesy Project CAELUS / Glasgow Airport / AGS Airports Limited

AGS Airports led the three-week trial alongside 15 consortium partners, aiming to pioneer a national drone network for healthcare logistics.

During this four year project, the lead health board, NHS Grampian has championed the “Once for Scotland” approach to address healthcare access challenges in remote and rural areas using cutting-edge drone technology.

Dr Jamie Hogg, clinical lead in the north for Project CAELUS trial said: “It feels fitting that the final flight trials have taken place here in the north east of Scotland. Grampian region has remote and rural areas, urban centres and long distances between sites and this can be very challenging at times. These test flights are the key to unlocking the huge potential of drone networks to support our NHS services.

“The CAELUS team tested the transportation of medical products by drone between Elgin and Aberdeen. These trials build on the successful live flight trials we have hosted in and around NHS sites in Lothian, Borders, Ayrshire and Arran and Glasgow.

“The North of Scotland and the islands stand to benefit from this research and innovation with the potential to be more patient-focused and sustainable.”

Fiona Smith, Sustainability Director at AGS Airports, said: "Project CAELUS is a truly ground-breaking initiative that not only transforms healthcare logistics but also demonstrates how drones can be safely and effectively integrated into modern airspace.

“By leveraging this innovative technology, we can deliver critical medical supplies like blood products and diagnostic samples in record time, improving patient outcomes and enhancing healthcare access for remote and rural communities.

“These trials showcase the potential of a future where drones are a seamless part of our airspace, working alongside traditional aviation to serve vital societal needs."

The Scottish Government’s Minister for Business & Innovation, Richard Lochhead has praised the Project CAELUS team for their work on live flight trials during the year.

Mr Lochhead said: “Scotland is a world leader in technological development, so I am pleased to see the CALEUS project progress further. This is a pivotal example of industry, academia and the public sector working together to develop solutions to enhance our public services.

 “The successful completion of live trials marks an important milestone in delivering the project, which promises a hugely promising solution to ensuring essential healthcare supplies are delivered where and when they are needed.”

The consortium of 16 partners, led by AGS Airports, make up CAELUS (Care & Equity – Logistics UAS Scotland), a project group which has developed and trialled what will be the UK’s first national distribution network using order fulfilment software that tasks drones to transport essential medicines, blood, organs and other medical supplies throughout Scotland.

Having received a total of £8.5 million funding from the UK Industrial Strategy Future Flight Challenge Fund, since it started in January 2020, the CAELUS project has demonstrated how autonomous drone technology can enhance access to essential medical supplies, particularly in rural parts of Scotland.

The CAELUS consortium has proto-typed drone landing stations for NHS sites across Scotland and developed a digital simulator to support the modelling of delivery networks nationally. This has the potential to connect hospitals, pathology laboratories, distribution centres and GP surgeries across Scotland in the future.

Hazel Dempsey, National Programme Manager from NHS Grampian said: "NHS Grampian is proud to be the lead board for NHS Scotland on CAELUS and we are delighted to have worked alongside our fellow boards and to be closing the project with our industry partners on this, our final live flight trial.”

Richard Ellis, NATs Head of New Airspace Users, said: “These trials, made successful through the collaborative work of the consortium and meticulous planning by the NATS Aberdeen tower control team, are advancing technology, airspace design, and drone operations, contributing valuable evidence for scaling drone use in the UK.”

The University of Strathclyde’s Principal Investigator for the project, Dr Marco Fossati, who created a digital blueprint of the drone delivery network with his research team, said: “It has been fantastic to have been involved in this project, which emerged from research led by Strathclyde, and which has the potential to connect hospitals, pathology laboratories, distribution centres and GP surgeries across Scotland.