uAvionix has supported a recent Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) demonstration organised by BT. uAvionix alongside BT, Skyfarer and Intelligent Energy, collaborated on the BVLOS demonstration flights between Snowdonia Aerospace Centre’s Llanbedr Airfield and the offshore D217 danger areas in Barmouth Bay, Wales.
uAvionix’s SkyLine Command and Control (C2) system showcased highly assured multi-datalink, multi-path, long-range C2 capabilities, combining C-Band aviation-protected spectrum, BT’s Drone SIM and Starlink’s low earth orbit satcom. These capabilities are essential for meeting the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) higher risk Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (SAIL) 4-6 BVLOS flight Operational Safety Objectives (OSOs).
This demonstration aligns with the UK CAA’s Future of Flight: BVLOS Roadmap and highlights how advanced C2 and Detect and Avoid (DAA) technologies can enable safer, scalable drone operations across the UK.
The UAV hexacopter, weighing 25kg, was powered by Intelligent Energy’s IE-SOAR™ hydrogen fuel cell system. It also incorporated uAvionix muLTElink-5060 Airborne Radio System (ARS) Link Executive Manager, providing robust multi-datalink Control and Non-Payload Communication (CNPC) C2 capabilities over C-Band, cellular (using BT’s Drone SIM in the muLTElink-5060), and low earth orbit (LEO) satcom (via a Starlink mini connected to the muLTElink-5060).
Skyfarer provided the operational approval, flight planning, flight crew, and operations support, including integrating the uAvionix SkyLine C2 system with their ground control system and setting up the uAvionix SkyStation5060-POE Ground Radio System (GRS). The uAvionix SkyLine system also received a traffic feed from the uAvionix FlightLine ADS-B surveillance system. This included data from the uAvionix FlightStation dual-frequency (1090MHz & 978MHz) ADS-B receiver hosted by Llanbedr Tower, plus an additional FlightStation set up by Skyfarer, which passed local traffic information to FlightLine.
The flights successfully demonstrated seamless handover between datalinks, maintaining C2 integrity even in challenging coastal environments.
The muLTElink-5060 Link Executive Manager in uAvionix SkyLine CNPC C2 utilises multi-datalink, multi-path connectivity over C-Band 5030-5091MHz aviation protected spectrum radio, cellular, and satellite to maintain constant control. SkyLine is a CNPC standards-based C2 system meeting the requirements of RTCA DO-377A and DO-362A, and the certified performance of the FAA’s draft Technical Standard Order, TSO C-213A.
The CAA is currently consulting on a C2 Link Policy Concept for SAIL 1 to 3 and plans to consult in due course on a C2 Link Policy Concept for SAIL 4 to 6 as well.
“This demonstration showcases the reliability of multi-datalink C2 in real-world UK conditions, paving the way for expanded BVLOS applications,” said Dave Pankhurst, Innovation Director, Future Connected Solutions, BT.
“uAvionix is committed to supporting the UK’s drone ecosystem with technologies that meet stringent CAA standards,” added Thomas Jimenez, VP of UAS at uAvionix.
