DRONE specialists who have worked on industrial sites all over the world met in west Cumbria to learn from the area’s nuclear site pioneers.

The purpose of the visit to Sellafield’s Engineering Centre of Excellence was to build on the learning of the organisation’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) team to help develop industry training standards for the use of drones on all sites across the UK including engineering, construction, nuclear and the water industry.

This was the first time the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board’s drone standards working group had visited Sellafield’s Engineering Centre of Excellence at Cleator Moor.

They also visited Sellafield site to see the working environment first-hand.

Amanda Smith, UAV Equipment Programme Lead, Remote Technologies Group, which includes UAVs, ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) and robotics, said: “It’s great to see experts in the field coming to visit us to learn how we have developed the use of UAVs at Sellafield.

“It’s also pleasing for all the team here to be recognised in this way, and to know that their knowledge, expertise and learning is helping to shape training standards in a diverse range of industries across the whole country.”

Amanda and her team of engineers and remote pilots flew more than 200 asset inspection flights in 2021 delivering in excess of £5m cost avoidance savings with most of the flights at Sellafield.

During the visit Reg Rudd and Helen Craig, both ECITB product development managers, and Kevin Westwood, Managing Director of Kevin D Westwood Associates, subject matter expert and consultant from Teesside, brought their perspective of working with industries all over the world to the discussion with Amanda and her Sellafield team.

Reg said: “Oil and gas was one of the first industries to take advantage of ROVs by using subsea equipment. Other industries have now started to catch up. 

“It’s been brilliant to see what Amanda and the team are achieving here in a nuclear industry environment at Sellafield."

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