Skyports completes move to Drone Operations HQ
Above: Skyports' Westcott facility.
Courtesy Skyports
Staying within Westcott Venture Park and the Westcott Space Cluster, the new hub sees Skyports taking a dedicated 5,145 sq ft building, which brings Skyports’ global drone operations, maintenance, storage and pilot training under one roof.
As the company continues to scale, the new hub will provide it with the space and facilities it needs as it successfully moves into its next phase of global growth and expansion, providing an ever-increasing fleet and scope of drone services.
Integrated and upgraded Remote Operations Centre
A core feature of the new Drone Operations Hub is bringing Skyports’ Remote Operations Centre (ROC) - where it remotely pilots its automated drone missions - within the same building, catering for a seamless workflow. From this location, Skyports is able to remotely pilot drone missions both across the UK and Europe.
One of Skyports seven ROCs globally, the new purpose-built ROC includes four state-of-the-art pilot stations, and is Skyports’ 'Gold-standard' facility, setting the benchmark for how it will scale high-volume, BVLOS operations in the coming years.
It features:
- Solid connectivity - each pilot station runs dual ground control stations connected through independent internet paths using Starlink and LTE, providing uninterrupted control even if one connection drops
- Power redundancy - providing 20-30 minutes of backup power in the event of an outage, allowing a pilot to stabilise and land the aircraft safely
- Powerful and secure computing - configured to meet ISO standards and effortlessly handle multiple cloud-based control systems, video feeds and mission planning tools simultaneously
- Enhanced interfaces for situational awareness – multiple ultra-wide displays allow pilots to monitor and manage multiple missions at once, supporting delivery, inspection and surveillance operations around the world
Significantly expanded hangar space and shop floor
The improved hub provides Skyports with a significant improvement on drone storage space that can house its growing fleet of aircraft.
With the expanding fleet also comes increased maintenance and engineering demands. The new facility features a large shop floor with multiple workbenches and storage space for tools and aircraft spares, helping Skyports’ pilots keep their aircraft in top condition.
Close access to an airfield, with advanced airspace approvals
The Drone Operations Hub is also located close to dedicated flying sites on Westcott Venture Park, providing Skyports with space to conduct training flights.
Skyports has obtained CAA approval for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) 'atypical airspace' at Westcott Venture Park, which allows its pilots to fly BVLOS flights across the estate, training for real world deployments such as maritime port surveillance and offshore drone deliveries.
Alex Brown, CEO, Skyports Drone Services, said: “With the scope and capabilities of our drone services ever expanding, it’s paramount that we have the best facilities possible so we can deliver the highest quality product to our customers. Our new global Drone Operations HQ marks the start of an exciting new chapter, providing our top talent with best-in-class facilities and technology, with ample space for us to grow as our operations continue to scale.”
The new facility has been supported by a major development programme backed by £5.9 million in UK Space Agency funding, secured through a successful collaborative bid led by URA Thrusters and including PATRIZIA (the owners of Westcott Venture Park), Buckinghamshire Council and Skyports.
