UK drone makes first civilian cross-border flight to Norway
A Flylogix drone has completed what the company describes as the first civilian cross-border drone flight from the UK. The aircraft flew from Tingwall Airport on the Shetland Islands to Equinor’s Statfjord B offshore platform in Norwegian waters and then returned to Shetland. The BVLOS mission covered 290 nautical miles (537 km), took 4 hours and 50 minutes, and included a methane emissions survey at the offshore installation.
Methane survey at Statfjord B
The Flylogix FX2 aircraft departed from Tingwall Airport in Shetland on July 11 and flew to Equinor’s Statfjord B platform in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The drone carried out a methane emissions survey before returning to Shetland.
The flight crossed the maritime boundary between the UK and Norway. Flylogix says the operation was conducted in cooperation with Equinor, NATS, Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway.
Fixed-wing aircraft
The FX2 is a fixed-wing RPAS rather than a conventional multirotor drone. It has a wingspan of 3.5 meters and is 2.75 meters long. Its weight is 27 kg dry and 42 kg when fueled.
The exact altitude used during the flight has not been disclosed. Flylogix has been conducting BVLOS operations in the North Sea under established airspace arrangements, including the use of Temporary Danger Areas and coordination with air traffic services.
The flight demonstrates how long-range BVLOS operations can be used for offshore inspection and environmental monitoring, including missions that cross national airspace boundaries.
