Filming drones in Cornwall

Something rather different for us yesterday – instead of drone filming in Cornwall we were filming drones in Cornwall! As experienced drone pilots ourselves, used to flying and filming at sea, it was intriguing to work at a whole new level.

Skyports drone ready for take off

The Open Skies Cornwall project

The Open Skies Cornwall project took a major first step yesterday in a series of technical trials.  The trials are part of plans to test ship-to-shore flights and prepare Falmouth Harbour’s ground infrastructure, flying procedures and airspace for drone activity. These test flights will continue into 2024. We at Crow Creative are proud to be the video and photographic partners of the project.

Flight path Falmouth Harbour

Emergency uses at sea

The concept is to use drones for deliveries to ships,  offshore islands and remote communities. Flying between ship (well a barge) to shore numerous times successfully, this was the first stage of proving that drones can be used in such a way.

Imagine the number of uses. For example delivering emergency medical supplies to a ship at sea. Collecting urgent blood samples and delivering them for analysis.
Flying urgently needed parts to a vessel in distress. These are just a few examples. Because use of drones in this way could definitely save lives…

Skyports drone succesfully landed on barge in Falmouth Harbour

Permanent drone base in Falmouth Harbour

So, the plan is for there to be a permanent drone base in Falmouth Harbour. This would probably use a permanently moored pontoon for take off and landing. The overall range of the drone can be up to 200km. So for example the Isles of Scilly and shipping in the Channel and Western Approaches could all be reached.

Coming in to land at Falmouth Harbour

Fascinating machines

The drones themselves are fascinating machines. Much bigger than recreational drones, they can carry a payload of several kilos. Although they take off and land vertically like recreational drones. But they also have extra propellors to allow them to fly horizontally more like an ordinary aircraft.

It was a fascinating and fun day, working with Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and Open Skies Cornwall, filming drones in Cornwall