heliguy™ secures SORA approval for Network Rail BVLOS flights

On 7 May 2026, heliguy™ secured Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operational approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to conduct remote drone-in-a-box operations for Network Rail.

Drone operations will be controlled remotely by heliguy™ pilots from its Remote Operations Command Centre (ROCC) at heliguy™ HQ in Newcastle – hundreds of miles away from the operational sites.

Simon Gillibrand, operations director for Network Rail’s Western Route, said:

“This is about giving our teams better, quicker access to information so they can make the right decisions on the ground and keep trains moving safely.

“In a busy operational railway, being able to assess infrastructure remotely will help us plan work more effectively, respond faster when issues arise, and ultimately keep disruption to a minimum for passengers and freight customers.”

The capability enables scalable, routine drone operations in critical infrastructure environments, and represents a new phase of remote drone operations across UK rail infrastructure.

It also demonstrates how heliguy™ can help organisations accelerate adoption of drone-in-a-box technology.

Enhancing monitoring, security, and operational efficiency across the rail network

Under the approved operating model, DJI Dock 3 and the DJI Matrice 4TD will conduct daily automated missions, Monday to Friday.

This enables routine, repeatable aerial operations without the need for on-site pilots, significantly increasing operational efficiency, coverage, safety, and responsiveness across critical rail infrastructure.

DJI Dock 3-DJI M4TD enables rapid deployment of high-resolution visual and thermal data.

Richard Barke, Route Crime & Security Manager for the Anglia Route, said the technology offers clear operational potential:

“BVLOS capability gives us a real opportunity to close the gap between operations and infrastructure teams. Being able to see what’s happening on the ground in real time will support faster, more informed responses to incidents. While this is still an emerging capability, the potential to improve service resilience and recovery is clear.”

Liam Barrington, operations drone project manager for the Western route, described the approval as a game changer for Network Rail:

"Having our SORA application for an Atypical Air Environment (AAE) accepted means a huge step forward for our business.

"It will transform how our operational and route crime teams work, giving us greater control and insight across our entire network and removing the need for a boots-on-ballast approach."

Major UK SORA milestone for BVLOS operations

UK SORA is the CAA's risk-based framework for assessing and authorising complex drone operations within the Specific Category, including BVLOS missions.

At SAIL II, operators must demonstrate a comprehensive safety case addressing operational, air, and ground risk.

Achieving SAIL II approval for routine operations in a complex, populated environment represents a significant regulatory milestone.

The approval follows more than 16 months of close collaboration between heliguy™ and Network Rail, combining operational, technical, and regulatory expertise to develop a scalable BVLOS operating model for critical national infrastructure.

Ken Durling, Asset Engineer (Track Renewals) for Network Rail’s Anglia Route, said:

“Carrying out BVLOS operations in and around live rail infrastructure, particularly in complex and populated environments, is not something that happens quickly.

"This has been a sustained effort involving problem solving and close collaboration, and it shows what can be achieved when operational and regulatory expertise are brought together with a shared goal.

"BVLOS is not simply an advancement in drone operations; it is a step change in the availability of trusted information and a more proactive approach to asset stewardship."

Liam added: "It has been truly inspiring to see such deep collaboration, as both teams overcame significant challenges together, and it’s amazing to see two routes come together to achieve this goal."

The operational safety case and regulatory submission were developed and delivered by heliguy™’s in-house regulatory team, demonstrating its expertise in securing advanced BVLOS approvals and enabling complex enterprise deployments under UK regulatory frameworks.

Tom Anderson, Lead Regulatory Consultant at heliguy™, said:

“Securing UK SORA authorisation at SAIL II in such a complex environment, with congested areas and high population density around the sites, is a major milestone.

“This project highlights heliguy™’s operational and regulatory expertise, and we’re proud to support Network Rail in exploring new ways of working through advanced drone operations.”

Accelerating BVLOS drone adoption

The approval builds on heliguy™’s continued regulatory progress, including authorisation to conduct BVLOS Dock operations in an AAE.

As such, heliguy™ has invested in its internal Dock infrastructure, including solutions engineers, project managers, certified DJI Dock technicians, in-house geospatial specialists, and the regulatory division.

heliguy™ offers numerous pathways to help organisations integrate remote and automated Dock technology: conducting operations for organisations; working with organisations to help them secure their own permissions; or a hybrid approach.