Last week NPAS posted another drone related press release on its site.
https://www.npas.police.uk/news/npas-trial-uncrewed-aircraft It is their version of an earlier one issued by the CAA on overall drone trials utilizing a Sandbox scheme.
There are some odd statements ..... but it is clear that it is a different beast to the Norwich trials of First Responder drones.
According to the NPAS statement they are after drones staying airborne for more than six hours and fitted with mission equipment comparable to those on the existing NPAS fleet.
The UAS will be flown by qualified NPAS pilots, supported by highly experienced tactical flight officers - the recent Strategic Board minutes have stated that they are short of both for day to day work so it may be they are bringing in drone pilots... but that is not what it says..Indeed it goes on to state “Nothing replaces the value that the skills and experience of NPAS pilots and tactical flight officers bring to policing,”
The trials, which are expected to begin in Spring 2025, will be run from an existing NPAS base in the South West region, (name me a few) selected for its unique position to operate over water for aircraft shakedown testing...... I guess that is not Exeter Airport but something down in Cornwall that D&C set up some years back..
NPAS is currently working with BlueLight Commercial to procure a supplier for the UAS which is to be trialled.