Aviation

Royal Mail UK’s first to launch cargo drone test flight

Royal Mail UK’s first to launch cargo drone test flight: Royal Mail is testing the use of a drone to deliver personal protective equipment, Covid-19 test kits, and other mail from the UK mainland to the Scilly Isles.

The firm claims it will be the country’s first parcel carrier to carry mail to a UK island using an autonomous flight that will fly out of reach of every operator for the entire 70-mile trip.

A smaller drone capable of vertical takeoff and landing would transport packages between the islands off the coast of Cornwall for distribution to their intended recipients.

The government is funding a month-long trial of scheduled flights from the mainland to isolated areas on the islands, which includes the University of Southampton and many drone firms.

Packages will be transported from the mainland to the islands’ airport in St Mary’s using a massive, twin-engine uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) manufactured in the UK by Windracers Limited.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was created to provide supplies to people in rural areas and can operate in a variety of weather conditions, including fog. It has the capacity to accommodate 100kg in the mail of all shapes and sizes, which is roughly equal to a standard delivery round.

The trial will mostly deliver PPE and Covid test kits from the mainland, but the drones will also transport other packages, such as online orders from retailers.

If it proves to be a success, Royal Mail says it would start implementing the technology through its postal network to assist with delivery to more rural areas of the region.

“There are some really remote areas on these islands, and this is a terrific way to help us reach them,” Amy Richards, a local postwoman for the Isles of Scilly, said she was excited to be a part of the initiative.

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Last December, Royal Mail sent a delivery to a remote lighthouse on Scotland’s Isle of Mull using a drone for the first time. In the coming months, the organization plans to launch a consultation with island residents on the use of drones to carry mail.

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Related Topics:drone isle of scilly royal mail uk uk mainland

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.