Windracers sets new safety benchmark with world-first BARS status for heavy-lift drones
London (UK) – 9 March 2026 – Windracers, the British dual-use heavy-lift drone company, has become the first heavy-lift drone operator in the world to achieve Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) Green status, demonstrating the company’s readiness to meet growing demand while maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability.
The BARS Program, administered by the Flight Safety Foundation, recognises operators who meet stringent operational and safety criteria. Windracers Green status confirms that all audit findings were closed on time, supporting continuous registration through to October 2026.
Windracers engineers, manufactures and operates Windracers ULTRA, the world’s most accomplished dual-use heavy-lift drone. Windracers ULTRA is capable of carrying over 150 kg and has a range of up to 2,000 km. The aircraft is in active service across Europe, North America, Africa and polar regions, with a growing fleet delivering critical supplies in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
Stewart Wallace, Head of Safety and Regulations at Windracers, said: “Achieving BARS Green status as the first heavy-lift middle-mile drone operator is a significant milestone for Windracers and the emerging autonomous aviation industry.
“Like approvals from national aviation authorities such as the UK CAA, achieving BARs Green status is further confirmation that Windracers operates our dual-use heavy-lift drone safely and reliably to carry out missions for customers.”
In September 2025, the UK CAA approved Windracers to conduct the UK’s first civil unmanned aerial system (UAS) international operation. Windracers was given approval by the CAA and Luftfartstilsynet (Civil Aviation Authority Norway) to fly its Windracers ULTRA beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) from Tingwall Airport in the Shetlands to Haugesund Airport in Norway.
For all media enquiries, please contact:
Windracers newsdesk at press@windracers.com