Royal Mail trialling post by drone in Argyll and Bute

The drone flights are running between the isles of Islay and Jura until 26 July, with postal workers loading and unloading mail on both sides for the first time.

The multirotor drone, which can carry payloads of up to 6kg, is the same one used in Royal Mail’s previous trial in Orkney. It is transporting mail that is usually taken via ferry in a Royal Mail van.

In a statement, Chris Paxton, Royal Mail’s Head of Drones, said: “This drone trial…is the latest step in our innovative collaboration with Skyports. Trialling drones allows us to test out new ways of working to support our posties in delivering to the most remote areas of the UK. As parcel volumes increase, we are continually looking for new ways to provide a reliable, fast and lower emission service to all our customers no matter where they live.”

This is the sixth time that Royal Mail has trialled drones and the second using Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS) flying, which allows drones to travel further than the standard Visual Line of Sight by making use of trained human observers along its route. These observers keep the pilot, who is flying the drone remotely, updated on critical information to ensure the drone maintains a safe distance from other air users, structures and any hazards.

The weather and geography of the Inner Hebrides can impact the ability to provide an uninterrupted delivery service; pauses in the ferry schedule are common during poor weather due to the challenges of docking safely.

According to Royal Mail, the use of drones for inter-island delivery also brings safety improvements, ensuring postal workers can deliver between ports and marinas without risk, as well as deliver emission savings.  

Given its Universal Service Obligation to deliver next day to each of the UK’s 32 million addresses, Royal Mail is exploring drones as a method to deliver to remote communities in a more reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly way.

In November 2022, the UK government awarded Argyll and Bute Council a grant of £250,000 via the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund (RPF) to work in partnership with Skyports to conduct a series of trials that will showcase the potential of drones in enhancing public services.

Argyll and Bute Council, in collaboration with Skyports, is supporting organisations like Royal Mail which provide critical services in the area. This collaborative effort aims to demonstrate how these organisations can improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of their operations and better serve customers by implementing drone services.

Alex Brown, director of Skyports Drone Services, said: “Argyll and Bute has been an important region for our UK flight trial and demonstration work over the years. With its coastal and island geography, drone services can significantly improve connectivity and bring substantial time savings for essential services such as medical logistics.”