The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a new virtual space in which new technology can be safely tested.
The new virtual space, entitled Innovation Sandbox, will offer companies the chance to discuss, explore, trial and test emerging concepts.
The new UK Civil Aviation Authority innovation team, initially funded by a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) grant, has launched the Innovation Sandbox with six participants.
These include Amazon, Altitude Angel, NBEC Consortium, Nesta Challenges, Volocopter; and NATTS and Searidge Technologies.
The CAA’s innovation team will work closely with the participants to help them understand how they can meet regulatory requirements. Ultimately, this will be one of the elements these innovators will need in order to bring new aviation and travel products and services to market.
Announcing the new Innovation Sandbox, Tim Johnson, Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “The UK is a global leader for aviation innovation and we are excited to be playing our role to support this.
“Public safety remains our number one priority, and our Innovation Sandbox will allow for the creation of world-first technologies, tried and tested in a safe environment.”