UK Open Skies Network to Create UK’s First Droneport, AAM Test-Flight Hub

Why It Matters

The DronePort establishes a critical test‑flight hub for advanced air‑mobility, accelerating UK adoption of electric and unmanned aircraft while driving high‑value jobs and regional economic growth.

Key Takeaways

• First UK DronePort at St Merryn Aerodrome
• Supports eVTOL, eSTOL, BVLOS drone operations
• Enables NHS drone delivery to Isles of Scilly
• Creates high‑value jobs and aerospace research hub
• Links Cornwall’s aerospace clusters with new aviation testing

Pulse Analysis

The United Kingdom’s first dedicated DronePort is taking shape at St Merryn Aerodrome in north Cornwall, following a partnership between Open Skies Network and ASONE Park. The facility will serve as a test‑flight hub for advanced air‑mobility (AAM) platforms, including electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) and electric short‑take‑off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, as well as beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) drones. By providing certified infrastructure and operational frameworks, the DronePort aligns with the Civil Aviation Authority’s roadmap for integrating unmanned and electric aircraft into the national airspace, positioning the UK at the forefront of the global AAM race.

Cornwall has emerged as a micro‑cluster for aerospace and space activity, anchored by Newquay Airport’s commercial operations and the ambitious Spaceport Cornwall project. The new aviation campus at ASONE Park extends this ecosystem, offering manufacturers, research institutions, and logistics firms a venue for high‑technology readiness level (TRL) testing across sectors such as medical delivery, agricultural monitoring, and search‑and‑rescue. Open Skies Network’s existing BVLOS capabilities and its collaboration with the CAA will accelerate certification pathways, while the proximity to university programmes in Exeter and Plymouth provides a pipeline of skilled talent.

The economic ripple effects are significant. The DronePort is expected to generate high‑value jobs, attract private investment, and stimulate supply‑chain activity for electric propulsion, avionics, and data‑analytics firms. Moreover, the planned NHS drone delivery service between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly showcases a concrete public‑sector use case that could be replicated nationwide. As regulatory frameworks mature, the St Merryn hub could become a template for regional AAM corridors, reinforcing the UK’s ambition to lead in sustainable aviation and to capture a larger share of the emerging global urban air‑mobility market.