What we do

The Thunderbird Project brings together the emergency services, the drone industry and other critical stakeholders, enabling drones to operate BVLOS, providing life-critical support.

A key focus of our work is building the evidence to demonstrate to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that drones can be operated BVLOS with acceptable safety risk.

We are working to establish three operating concepts which we believe will meet Emergency Service needs.

Our core operating concepts

Thunderbird 1

A larger fixed wing or hybrid drone operating over longer ranges, with longer endurance and integrating into airspace at higher altitude where necessary, to provide situational awareness.

Thunderbird 2

A smaller, multirotor drone deployed remotely from stations to provide closer range support, notably around residential areas.

Thunderbird 3

A capability already utilised by the emergency services involving on-scene deployment of a multirotor drone that is operated BVLOS with operational dispensation.

Phase 1 - Feasibility

Aim: Understand the emergency services’ needs, alongside establishing the key architectures and roadmap to deliver these valuable capabilities.

Scope: Through collaboration with all Scottish emergency services, the National Police Air Service and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency we developed a strong understanding of key use cases and their contributing requirements. Together we developed an understanding of the architectures needed to deliver such capabilities, forming a clear vision and roadmap needed to implement routine BVLOS for life-critical care.

Duration: March – October 2022

Phase 2 - Capability assessment

Aim: Determine the baseline of what latest available capabilities can achieve, developing these and building evidence of safe operation for the UK CAA.

Scope: To date, we have...

  • Carried out a review of all relevant UK aviation regulations,

  • Assessed over 120 leading drone systems for their suitability against the emergency service needs identified in Phase 1,

  • Refined a programme architecture for how to deliver these capabilities,

  • Evaluated over 30 leading commercial drone operators, and

  • Continued to build on our close relationship with the CAA.

During the latter stages of Phase 2, we will carry out a series of trials and demonstrations to inform the ongoing capability development, whilst continuing to engage with the growing number of stakeholders engaged with the Thunderbird Project.

Duration: November 2022 – October 2023