Successful trials open door to permanent drone hub at Oban Airport and expanded rural services
Argyll and Bute is positioning itself as a leader in drone innovation following the completion of a year-long project that tested unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations across the west coast of Scotland.
Led by Argyll and Bute Council in partnership with drone services company Skyports, the trials explored how drones could safely operate alongside manned aircraft in low-density rural airspace. The initiative received £250,000 in funding from the UK Government’s Regulators’ Pioneer Fund and concluded in August 2024.
The council tested a range of applications, including:
-
School meal deliveries to remote areas
-
Medical and mail deliveries in collaboration with NHS and Royal Mail between Islay and Jura
-
Vegetation management along the River Ba on Mull
-
Infrastructure inspections by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and Network Rail
Councillors have now approved a final report on the project, highlighting its potential to improve services in remote and island communities while reducing logistical barriers.
“While discussions are still ongoing with the Civil Aviation Authority, these trials have been extremely valuable in establishing the benefits drones would bring to delivery of services in Argyll and Bute,” said Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services.
The trials also support the case for a permanent Advanced Air Mobility Hub at Oban Airport, which has been earmarked for £4 million in funding through the Rural Growth Deal, pending business case approval.
UK Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance welcomed the project’s outcomes, saying: “From delivering school meals to remote areas to supporting NHS deliveries, these trials show how drones could transform essential services for rural communities.”
He added that the project demonstrates how innovation-friendly regulation can drive both technological progress and public benefit as part of the UK’s broader Plan for Change.
The trials form part of a wider effort by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to foster a regulatory environment that encourages business innovation and investment, particularly in future transport.
