Drones to go beyond visual line of sight

In a ground-breaking development for UK agriculture, AutoSpray Systems, working within the SEAD Artists consortium, has secured the UK’s first permanent Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) approval for drone operations in an Atypical Air Environment (AAE). Awarded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), this landmark permission removes a long-standing operational limit, enabling drones to fly beyond the typical 500-meter visual range.

For agriculture, the implications are huge.

Previously, drone-based pesticide spraying was held back not by legislation, but by the absence of an approved pathway. SEAD Artists challenged that gap, demonstrating to the CAA that low-altitude agricultural drone operations (under 15m) present minimal risk to airspace users.

The result: a new operational model that unlocks myriad use cases including aerial pesticide and granular material application, hyperspectral crop analysis, peatland restoration, paludiculture seeding, reforestation, and even harvesting in wetland crops like Typha.

This BVLOS approval means drones no longer need to remain within line of sight which allows operators to reduce labour and reach inaccessible or fragile terrain without compacting soil or damaging crops. Operators can now approve locations using a streamlined CEA template and fly as often as needed, with no activity-based restrictions.

A new framework for drone-enabled agriculture

With the SEAD Artists consortium combining drone operations, land management, and safety expertise, the sector now has a clear route to integrate advanced drone capabilities across the full production cycle, from sensing and mapping to input application and yield optimisation.

Drones also open the door to future commercial opportunities for farmers, such as:

• Farmer-owned infrastructure for safe drone operations

• Monetising safety and environmental data for shared drone usage

• Solutions-integrated drone systems for carbon monitoring and biodiversity management

Funding is available through Innovate UK’s Future Flight Challenge to support the commercialisation of drone operations — including BVLOS in agriculture — with grants of up to £500k (Strategic Growth) or £200k (Regional Demonstrators). Applications close 11 June. Find out more.

Watch the Conversation

Explore the details of the BVLOS breakthrough and what it means for agri-tech in our conversation with SEAD Artists.

Join us online on 14 July

These opportunities will be explored at on online event on 14 July 1-2pm – Elevating Agriculture: Unlocking the Potential of Drones Free to Members.

You may also be interested in the Future Flight Innovate UK funding call, closing on 11 June 2025.