Highlands and Islands aviation achievements leads to UK recognition

The Highlands and Islands will be at the forefront of developing green innovations in aviation, including drone technology, with a new appointment.

Jayne Golding has been appointed a member of the recently-renewed Future of Flight Industry Group, chaired by UK Government Minister for Aviation, Mike Kane.

It recognises Jayne’s experience leading the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) programme and expertise in sustainable transport.

SATE established the UK’s first operationally based low-carbon aviation test centre, based at Kirkwall Airport.

Led by the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), it brings together a national consortium of private and public sector bodies, academics and communities to devise state-of-the-art technology to help economic growth.

SATE works across the Highlands and Islands to match sustainable innovation with the needs of rural and island areas.

This ranges from new hybrid airships, long distance unmanned cargo drones, electric airplanes and seaplanes, to aircraft powered by hydrogen.

The Future of Flight Industry Group will serve as a strategic forum for industry leaders and UK communities alongside the Minister for Aviation.

The group will collaborate on the development and delivery of a Future of Flight Plan, setting out the actions that industry, government and other stakeholders need to take to maximise the benefits of future technologies for the economy and for communities.

It also considers how to continue implementing the high UK standard on aviation safety in an appropriate way for these new aviation technologies and their appropriate integration with other transport modes.

Jayne Golding said: “I am honoured to have been appointed to this UK leadership group to accelerate growth of Future of Flight safely and securely in the UK.

“It’s important to highlight regional needs and opportunities for sustainable aviation and integration with other transport modes.

“I am looking forward to working with group members across industry and government to continue to advance Future of Flight technologies across Scotland and the rest of the UK.”

Earlier this month, the aviation minister announced £20 million of funding to help launch new flight technologies such as drone services at a commercial scale and flying taxis. See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-20-million-to-help-drones-and-flying-taxis-take-to-uk-skies