The UK’s first drone delivery service has launched in Orkney.

The joint operation, by Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services, will initially operate on the islands for three months.

It will see letters and parcels transported from a delivery office in Kirkwall to Stromness, from where drones will take them to staff on Graemsay and Hoy to carry out their usual rounds.

The drones, a Speedbird Aero DLV-2 model, can carry payloads of up to 6kg.

It’s hoped it will significantly improve service levels and delivery times to the two islands, as the often challenging geography and weather can cause disruption and pose safety risks to postal workers.

Chris Paxton, head of drone trials at Royal Mail, said the fully electric unmanned aircraft would also assist the company’s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Should it prove effective, the so-called Orkney I-Port operation could be continued on a permanent basis.

Final day to use Royal Mail stamps without barcode before surcharge fee applies

Royal Mail strikes end as postal workers vote to accept pay deal

Royal Mail workers report almost 2,000 dog attacks in a year – as Tunbridge Wells tops worst postcode list

The project has been funded by the Department for Transport’s Freight Innovation Fund.

Plans for a Royal Mail drone delivery service were first detailed last year, with the firm saying it aimed to eventually bring the technology to all corners of the UK.

Other delivery companies have also been trialling post by air, notably Amazon in parts of the US.

Related posts:

Parliament’s email system less secure than Gmail, says MP ‘hit by Chinese psy-op emails’ Baby with spinal disorder recovering well after receiving dose of ‘world’s most expensive drug’ Civilian astronauts have ‘incredible’ first day in space as new pictures released of the crew ‘Marvel of evolution’: Millipede with 1,306 legs found – most of any known animal Peloton shares fall 20% on report of temporary production halt Elon Musk sells millions of Tesla shares days after Twitter deal announced Everything you need to know about Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover German cybersecurity officials looking into ‘attacks’ on websites Bird flu: Health officials draw up COVID-style model looking at pandemic possibilities Netflix begins crackdown on households sharing passwords ChatGPT gets major knowledge upgrade Sunak meets tech bosses over ‘existential’ artificial intelligence risks