Amazon has been selected to participate in a UK trial aimed at expanding the use of drones. The online retail giant is one of six organisations chosen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for trials involving beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights, which will not require operators to keep the devices within their physical view.

Amazon plans to launch its Prime Air service in the UK by year’s end, promising delivery of small packages within an hour of order placement. The company already provides drone deliveries in Lockeford, California and College Station, Texas in the US.

Other projects selected by the CAA for BVLOS flight trials include offshore wind farm inspections, the National Police Air Service, air traffic control provider Nats, flights from the Scottish archipelago Orkney, and emergency medical supply deliveries. The regulator stated that all schemes will utilise “advanced technologies” for navigation, control, and detection of other aircraft.

Sophie O’Sullivan, CAA director of future of flight, said: “These innovative trials mark a significant step forward in integrating drones safely into UK airspace. By supporting projects ranging from consumer deliveries to critical infrastructure inspections, we are gathering essential data to shape future policies and regulations.”

She concluded: “Our goal is to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality, contributing to the modernisation of UK airspace and the incorporation of new technology into our skies.”

David Carbon, Amazon Prime Air’s vice president and general manager, remarked: “It’s crucial for operators like us to have clear regulatory requirements in order to bring and scale new technologies, such as drone delivery, to customers in the UK.

“We appreciate the CAA’s effort to partner with us to help bring clarity to the regulations that support commercial drone delivery.”