And the other minor problem with this '6 month' trial being undertaken under the oversight of NPAS is that history tells us that the world is not exactly ready for BVLOS operations in an urban environment - let alone the cost.
NPAS struggles on with a handful of aircraft to cover 43 police forces and the project suggests that each city [or town] of note may be served by 2-3 Drones as First Responders to save the time of the police and emergency services. And do not forget that PSNI and Scotland may want the same equipment....
I am not so sure that the economics is going to hold out here....
The nice and flexible manned aircraft serving 43 seem to under threat from DFR set up in centres of population. Well a quick Google tells me that there are 76 cities in the UK, there are also plenty of large towns, Multiply that by three each and the infrastructure starts to get as complex as setting up the ESN (and we know how well that has been going!), so lets not place too much faith in DFR as a helicopter replacement concept! Might just be another £2BN black hole in the public finances.
The last NPAS project to bolster air support was fixed wing (replacing the MD902 Explorers) and that has not exactly set the world on fire has it. They just cannot do the hours - although much of that may be staff related. I wonder whether there are enough engineers out there to support in excess of 500 little flying machines dotted around on poles and rooftops? I wonder how well equipped the NPAS Wakefield control room is to filter out an added fleet of 500!