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The Drone Test and Development Centre offers a secure environment to test and develop drone products and services, including capabilities that will support Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS), pilot training and remote flight operations. Westcott as a former RAF airfield without general aviation, has multiple open flying areas, no conflicting traffic, and a low residential density, making it an ideal location for unmanned specialist companies to test and develop their vehicles and sensors.
Get in touch with our team – facilities@sa.catapult.org.uk
Our purpose-built centre for drone testing and development includes facilities for companies to design, build, test, and operate advanced remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft or drones.
These include:
- Three large workshops for technical development – full and half hangars are available for long and short term lease, and flexible workbench options available for rent by the day.
- A 270-metre runway for horizontal take-off.
- Four dedicated landing pads for vertical, or vertical to horizontal take-off.
- Multiple flying areas offering real world flying environments.
- Drone training academy for instructors to hold training courses with flight opportunities.
Are you a CAA-approved Drone Flight Instructor? Find out more about our premises for holding training courses by clicking the button below.
Currently in development:
- Drone cage flight enclosure for controlled flight testing in a contained environment.
- Tether for development and testing of tethered drone systems.
- Multipurpose drone platform – test your sensors on our drone, with our pilots on hand to support your testing.
- Expanded workshop spaces for drone testing and development.
- Static and moveable test ranges for flexible drone testing.
Get in touch
We can help you identify where you are on your development journey, connect you with industry experts, and highlight relevant equipment – facilities@sa.catapult.org.uk