case study

Successful Independent Flight Termination System Testing

Enabling Flare Bright to validate groundbreaking drone safety technology through advanced testing, expert support, and world-class facilities at the Catapult’s DTDC.

Flare Bright are a rapidly growing organisation from the United Kingdom that are pioneering the development of novel drone technologies. Founded in 2015 by Dr. Kelvin Hamilton FRAeS and Dr. Conrad Rider, Flare Bright has been developing aerospace technologies with the aim of enhancing the safety of drone operations in the United Kingdom and the world as a whole.

Satellite Applications Catapult’s DTDC provided an invaluable controlled environment, including advanced facilities and expert technical support, enabling Flare Bright to meticulously conduct ground, bench, and flight tests. Their team's expertise streamlined the complex setup process, allowing Extera to be efficiently validated under realistic flight conditions.

The outcomes were exceptional:

• 100% successful termination signal validation
• Comprehensive electrical validation confirming relay functionality in flight
• Robust documentation ensuring regulatory compliance readiness

Access to the Catapult’s test infrastructure was pivotal, enabling Flare Bright to confidently validate critical safety capabilities, reducing both development time and costs.

Flare Bright successfully completed crucial validation testing of its Extera Independent Flight Termination System (FTS) at the Satellite Applications Catapult Drone Test and Development Centre (DTDC). Undertaking rigorous tests aligned with EASA Means of Compliance (MoC) 2511 and 2512, Extera demonstrated reliable performance, essential for safely expanding beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations in the UK.

Testing at DTDC positions Flare Bright to leverage Extera as a pivotal safety enabler in the rapidly evolving UK drone industry. Our partnership with Satellite Applications Catapult not only expedited critical milestones but also strengthened our credibility as industry leaders in drone safety technology.

"The Catapult team’s support has accelerated our ability to deliver certified safety-critical technology, directly contributing to Flarebright’s commercial readiness and credibility in the drone operations sector.”

Mick Davidson, Product Delivery Manager, Flare Bright