Welcome to the latest updates from the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE). This autumn/winter has brought exciting developments across our projects, partnerships, and team – all contributing to toward cleaner regional aviation. 

ERA Conference Highlights 

Jayne Gourlay, SATE Project Coordinator, attended European Regions Airline Association (ERA) General Assembly in Estoril, Portugal, the flagship event for regional aviation across Europe. 

The conference highlighted the importance of regional aviation in Europe but also the cost and regulatory pressures within the industry to keep these essential routes running. Another key element of the days was the importance of scaling up sustainability, and how it is being done by ERA members – discussed in the new technology for sustainable operations workshop.  

SATE is a proud member of ERA.  

Staff Update: Welcoming Dawn Gillies 

We’re delighted to welcome Dawn Gillies as HITRANS’s new Sustainable Aviation Development Manager. 

Dawn brings extensive experience in business development with a background in STEM projects and public engagement. Dawn will be strengthening partnerships across government, industry, and academia. 

We are thrilled to have her expertise as we move into the new phase of the programme. 

SATE Newcastle Workshop 

SATE recently hosted a collaborative workshop in Newcastle, bringing together consortium partners to shape the future roadmap for sustainable aviation and drone infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands. SATE partners came together to develop clear next steps over the course of the day, with useful discussions feeding into the wider project. 

The outcomes will directly influence our upcoming roadmap and future project proposals, continuing our commitment to collaborative action towards a sustainable and innovative aviation future. 

Project ALBUM Future Flight Challenge Success  

The Advanced Logistics BVLOS UAV Mission (ALBUM), funded through Innovate UK’s Future Flight: Strategic Growth programme, builds on the success of Project SATE 2 to advance large-scale uncrewed aircraft operations in the Highlands and Islands. Led by ARC Aerosystems with partners Acroflight, ScubaTX, and HITRANS, the seven-month project will test the C600 UAV, a vertical take-off and landing aircraft capable of carrying a 100 kg payload over 400 km. 

The project will conduct the first payload-carrying flights at Wick John O’Groats Airport, validating long-range UAV operations for logistics and medical transport.  

ALBUM aims to demonstrate how heavy-lift drones can revolutionise supply chains and healthcare access in remote regions, including the rapid delivery of medical supplies and organs in partnership with ScubaTX and 34 Lives. It will also strengthen the region’s capability as a national testbed for sustainable aviation and produce vital data to support commercial trials. For HITRANS and SATE, the project reinforces its leadership in decarbonising and modernising regional transport while positioning the Highlands and Islands at the forefront of future air mobility. 

C2I Awards Shortlist 

We’re delighted to share that SATE has been shortlisted for The Engineer’s 2025 Collaborate to Innovate (C2I) Awards in the Aerospace and Defence category. SATE previously won the award in 2022, and we are proud to have been shortlisted once again.  

Winners will be announced in early 2026 – we look forward to celebrating with our partners.  

Here is to a great 2026 for SATE and its partners.