1851

Isle of flight

Linney film crews captured footage of pioneering parcel drone deliveries

Linney film crews captured footage of pioneering parcel drone deliveries during flying visits to two of the UK’s most remote regions.

The teams travelled to the Isle of Mull, on the west coast of Scotland, and to the Isles of Scilly – around 60 miles off the Cornish coast – to film the drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), during take-off and landing.

The drones can carry up to 100kg of mail at a time – equivalent to a typical delivery round – and deliveries have included PPE, COVID-19 vaccinations and test kits, along with other medical supplies and online purchases.

Tracking the drones was a complex but rewarding assignment involving air traffic control, ferry trips, speedboats, early starts and lengthy stays in hotels with strict COVID restrictions.

These 'out-of-sight' deliveries marked the first time a UK courier has piloted uncrewed air services and Linney's footage of these flights featured on major UK TV channels, including the BBC, ITV Sky and even satirical panel show Have I Got News For You.

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