Cornwall Airport Limited intends to apply to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for a change to the designation of a small area of airspace in the vicinity of the airport in response to commercial discussion with potential industry customers in the sector of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

This is an exciting opportunity for Cornwall to be in the vanguard of the next big advance in international aerospace.

Cornwall Airport Newquay is ideally located for the development and flight testing of UAS due to its coastal location and direct access to a large and underutilised airspace over the sea providing a safe and controlled area. The airport’s existing infrastructure and long runway also make it an ideal location for such activity.

CAA regulations require UAS operations to be conducted in segregated airspace. Although such segregated airspace exists some 10 miles off the coast over the Celtic Sea and South West approaches, a small corridor from the airport to the established area is required to get the UAS to and from the testing area.

Andy Ormshaw, Manager of Air Traffic Services at Cornwall Airport Newquay, said: “The temporary area would be activated and notified well in advance for the minimum time period necessary to transit these aircraft to and from their testing area. Normal operations would continue outside of these notified times and Newquay Air Traffic Control would retain full control of the airspace at all times.”

Full details of the proposal are available at www.newquayairportairspaceconsultation.com and feedback is being encouraged from a wide range of stakeholders.

For flight schedules, routes and more information about Cornwall Airport Newquay please visit www.newquaycornwallairport.com