Derek Thomas MP visited the Project SeaWatch team (UAVaid and Archangel Imaging) while technical testing at Predannack Airfield in Cornwall, for a briefing on the coastal monitoring innovation project. Representing the largely coastal parliamentary constituency of St Ives, Derek had a particular interest in Project SeaWatch due to its potential applications for improving Safety at Sea and Fisheries Protection.
Derek was briefed on the technical capabilities of the project as well as the potential use-cases for supporting coastal communities and resources. With the project being partly funded by InnovateUK, through their Future Flight Challenge programme, Derek also discussed with Daniel Ronen and Charles Smith the positive economic opportunity the project brings to both Cornwall and wider UK PLC.
The Cornwall facility at Predannack was selected for the flight test programme for its close proximity to coastal water and infrastructure to support aerial technical testing. The SeaWatch team hopes to return shortly.