Drones are being tested by Royal Mail in Scotland to deliver mail to remote islands and reduce carbon emissions.
The two-week trial began Monday from Kirkwall to North Ronaldsay, in the Orkney Islands of northern Scotland.
Mail is transported by a large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) named Ultra, built by UK transport company Windracers Ltd, in hopes of better connecting remote island communities.
The drone can carry up to the island 100 kg of various types of mail, which are then delivered normally by the local postal workers when it reaches the north island.
Nick Landon, Commercial Director of Royal Mail, said: “At Royal Mail we care about providing brilliant service to all of our customers, no matter where they live in the UK. We are also incredibly passionate about protecting our diverse and beautiful environments. “
He continued, “This trial is designed to help achieve both of these goals, using the most innovative technologies to support the remote and isolated communities we serve in the greenest way possible.”
If the outcome of the trial is successful, drones could be more widely considered by Royal Mail to help postal workers deliver to remote areas of the UK and to reduce carbon emissions.
Sarah Moore, a local postwoman for North Ronaldsay, said: “It’s really exciting to be involved in this lawsuit. North Ronaldsay is a very remote part of the UK and I am proud to be part of an initiative that will help Royal Mail do all it can to keep all parts of the UK connected.
This is Royal Mail’s third drone test in the past year, one in December 2020 delivering the post to the Isle of Mull in Scotland and the other in May 2021 delivering to the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornish coast.
This test is part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment project based at Kirkwall Airport and is funded by UK Research and Innovation through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
