”Skellefteå Droneport is a fully equipped, professional test facility, offering everything from heated hangars and robust IT infrastructure to a UAV zone located close to both forest and urban environments, suitable for testing, for example, complex search and rescue scenarios. Our project demonstrated that the facility is optimal for operations at all hours of the day and in all weather conditions throughout the year, making it the obvious choice for ensuring reliable operational workflows”, says Per Bröms, Innovation Lead, Aero EDIH.
Challenges
Skellefteå City Airport is a key partner in the Arctic Aviation Hub, a regional initiative to accelerate sustainable aviation through electrified aircraft, drones, and supporting infrastructure. To achieve this vision, the airport needed to:
- Establish an UAS zone enabling safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations in compliance with Swedish Transport Agency regulations.
- Validate Skellefteå Droneport as a testbed for advanced drone operations, ensuring it meets technical, operational, and user requirements for industry and research partners.
These efforts are critical for positioning Skellefteå as a leading hub for drone innovation, winter testing, and real-world deployment of socially beneficial drone services. In this Success Story, you can read more about how Aero EDIH has contributed to this achievement.
Solutions
Part 1 – Establishing a UAS Zone
Aero EDIH through Jan-Olof Ehk (Norrköping science park) supported Skellefteå City Airport in preparing and submitting an application for a temporary “dangerous area” for UAS operations (ESD821 Skellefteå Viken UAS).
The process involved extensive coordination with the Swedish Transport Agency, AMC Sweden, the Swedish Air Ambulance, Police Authority, Coast Guard, and other stakeholders. Operational routines and technical measures (e.g., ADS-B Out for electronic visibility) were developed to ensure flight safety and priority for emergency services. A revised operations manual was submitted after collaborative risk mitigation with ambulance operators.
Part 2 – Droneport Field Test
In parallel, Aero EDIH facilitated a field test at Skellefteå Droneport, executed by RISE AB, Monava AB, and UASolutions AB.
Monava AB validated an acoustic drone detection system using MEMS microphone arrays, real-time localization algorithms, and machine learning on an NVIDIA Jetson platform. Tests demonstrated detection of small quadcopters at ~150 m and heavy platforms at ~300 m, even in noisy conditions.
UASolutions AB evaluated Droneport’s facilities and integrated a new professional hand controller (FrSky X20RS) with telemetry for its The Last Mile® service. Practical flight tests included range checks, magnetic compensation strategies, payload drops, and night operations.
RISE contributed additional drone flights to support joint testing and system validation.
Results and Benefits
The combined initiatives have significantly strengthened Skellefteå City Airport’s role as a hub for drone innovation and sustainable aviation. Through the successful application process for a temporary UAS zone, the airport now has a clear regulatory pathway to conduct BVLOS operations in a controlled and safe manner. This achievement was made possible by extensive collaboration with national authorities and emergency services, ensuring that operational routines and technical measures – such as electronic visibility via ADS-B Out – are in place to protect flight safety and prioritize ambulance traffic.
At the same time, the field tests at Skellefteå Droneport validated the facility as a versatile and well-equipped environment for advanced drone operations. The tests demonstrated that the infrastructure – heated hangars, secure outdoor areas, 5G connectivity, and office spaces – meets the needs of both technology developers and operational teams. Monava’s acoustic detection system proved capable of identifying and tracking drones in real time under challenging conditions, while UASolutions successfully integrated a new professional hand controller and confirmed stable performance even in the demanding magnetic environment of northern Sweden. These tests also highlighted Droneport’s potential as a collaborative platform, enabling multiple actors to work together on complex scenarios such as endurance campaigns and search-and-rescue exercises.
Beyond technical validation, the initiatives generated valuable operational insights. Feedback from the tests identified minor improvements, such as enhanced fire safety for lithium batteries and optimized lighting, which can further increase safety and user experience.
Strategically, the projects position Skellefteå as a leading European testbed for drone technology, offering unique capabilities for winter testing and real-world integration of socially beneficial drone services. Together, these efforts create a foundation for future innovation, attract new partners, and contribute to regional economic growth through cutting-edge aviation solutions.
Perceived Social and Economic Impact
By establishing an UAS zone and validating Droneport operations, Skellefteå City Airport enables the integration of drones into regional transport and emergency services. This supports sustainable mobility, accelerates innovation in Arctic conditions, and creates opportunities for local businesses and research institutions. The initiative contributes to economic growth, job creation, and the development of safe, socially beneficial drone applications.
Lessons Learned
Engage early with regulatory authorities and emergency services to ensure risk mitigation and operational alignment. Validate infrastructure under real-world conditions, including harsh weather and magnetic anomalies. Combine technical tests with user experience evaluations to identify both quick fixes and strategic improvements.
Do not underestimate the complexity of BVLOS approvals – stakeholder coordination and technical compliance are essential. Avoid focusing solely on hardware, operational routines and communication protocols are equally critical for safety and scalability.
”Thanks to the support from Aero EDIH, Skellefteå Droneport now has a geographic UAS zone established that allows drone flights beyond visual line of sight for those who meet the requirements. This is an extremely important opportunity for those developing new technology.
The opportunities to provide some cost coverage for companies that wanted to conduct field tests at Skellefteå Droneport meant that during the autumn we were able to welcome two companies who tested their technology in real conditions for a few days. At the same time, we received valuable feedback on our test environment.”, says Henrik Littorin, Sustainable aviation consultant, Skellefteå Airport.
Skellefteå Droneport
