‘Beyond the Horizon’ UAS company Flylogix Limited has announced the launch of a North Sea drone initiative in collaboration with multinational integrated oil and gas company Total S.A., UK air traffic navigation services provider NATS, and the Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC).

The project will seek to overcome the challenges associated with UAS inspection activities in the North Sea, and look to provide commercial UAS operators with easier access to UK controlled airspace for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.

“We are delighted to partner with Total, NATS and OGTC to enable routine beyond the horizon unmanned aircraft operations in the North Sea,” says Charles Tavner, executive chairman of FlyLogix.

“This project enables us to conduct daily inspections and emissions measurement without the cost and risk of sending deploying personnel offshore.”

Through the collaboration, a concept for UAS operations that will allow UAS operators to react within hours of an inspection request and enable routine BVLOS in the North Sea will be developed and tested. The project involves thorough consultation with stakeholders, and seeks to establish a “leading example of safe and reliable drone operations alongside existing users in controlled airspace.”

Right now, it can take up to three months to approve UAS operations inside UK controlled airspace. Requests are considered on a one-by-one basis, which results in single flight permissions being granted, which ultimately makes the planning of inspection and logistic services extremely slow.

The collaboration will leverage the strengths of each entity, including “FlyLogix’s unique BVLOS capability, Total’s leadership in robotic and autonomous systems for the energy industry, NATS’ expertise in unified traffic management, and the OGTC’s unparalleled position of influence with the UK offshore industry.”

“Collaboration is key. By bringing together industry expertise in oilfield robotics and autonomous systems, alongside aviation specialists, collectively we can accelerate the development of robust standards, ensuring safety and reliability remain a priority,” explains Suzanne Buist, project engineer at the OGTC.

“The integration of this new technology alongside existing airspace users is an important step forward in the adoption of drones to undertake a wide range of operational activities in the North Sea.”