Building on our earlier insights into Cornwall’s National Drone Hub and its vital role in the region’s burgeoning aerospace sector, we delve deeper into the story of this groundbreaking facility.
Operated by WholeShip Ltd, the National Drone Hub is a pioneering facility offering access to segregated airspace, four runways, and multiple operating surfaces on a 320-hectare site, just 600 metres from the sea. The Hub provides the perfect environment for testing and advancing UAV technology and operations, making it a cornerstone of Cornwall’s aerospace and innovation ecosystem.
To learn more about this remarkable facility, we spoke to WholeShip Ltd Founder and National Drone Hub CEO, Dan Stembridge:
“As an experienced fighter pilot, I know that drones will increasingly augment and, in some cases, replace crewed aircraft in both the military and civil sector, and realised that regulation would require almost all drone flight-tests to be conducted in segregated airspace, and that demand would soon outstrip availability.
Over the past two years, we have invested £3.2m in supporting infrastructure and expertise to build the National Drone Hub; bringing together industry, government, academia, and regulators to develop drones and associated technologies.”
“The National Drone Hub is situated at an airfield inside over 5,500² km of segregated airspace, from surface to an altitude of 55,000 feet. This is one of only three comparable sites in the UK, and one of the largest areas suitable for drone testing in Europe.”
“All flight test and evaluation of drones flown Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLoS) requires segregated airspace, with no access to other aircraft. The National Drone Hub is an ideal test facility with its access to such a large section of segregated airspace.
We’ve developed Ship-Air Digital Integration Equipment (SADIE); A fully instrumented mobile, motion platform that simulates a ship’s flight-deck at sea.
Alongside trials with the Royal Navy using SADIE, and together with our partner Nova Systems, we are leading the way in the safe and rapid integration of drones to ships.”
“WholeShip is an independent, system-agnostic company that operates the National Drone Hub, providing cost-effective access to segregated airspace, previously unavailable to the civil sector.
We work with traditional ‘Primes,’ SMEs, government (local & central), academia, and regulators to create an environment where drones and associated technologies can develop through collaboration and partnerships.
It’s a great physical location that brings the sectors together to innovate and explore.”
“We have active MOUs with Spaceport Cornwall and Goonhilly Earth Station. As part of the Cornwall Space Cluster, we offer a unique blend of national capabilities with international reach.
We’ve invested £3.2m to date, and by 2030, we will have invested £20m—creating regional jobs and supporting many more in the wider supply chain.”
“The long-term objectives of the National Drone Hub are to create jobs, develop strategic partnerships, and expand the facility to include sub-surface, surface, and space operations.
This will be achieved through continued inward investment by WholeShip, funded by organic economic growth aligned to customer needs.”
The National Drone Hub is not just a hub for innovation, it’s a beacon of progress for the region, set to drive economic growth and innovation in Cornwall as the UK journeys towards technological excellence and sustainable development.
Visit the WholeShip Ltd website to learn more about the National Drone Hub at Predannack Airfield.
*The National Drone Hub working group includes stakeholders from Cornwall Airport Newquay, Spaceport Cornwall, Cornwall Council, The Great South West, CAA, Offshore Renewables Energy Catapult, Skyports, Lockheed Martin, Leonardo and the Royal Navy.
