Avtrain, one of Europe’s leading drone training and regulatory consultancy organisations, has announced that it is establishing a UK office in Bristol. The new base will enable Avtrain to continue supporting existing clients and expand its support for new clients seeking approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The Bristol office will focus in particular on UK SORA-based Operational Authorisation applications and on helping eligible operators prepare for the CAA’s developing LUC framework.
A strategic UK base for regulatory support
The Bristol office will provide clients with practical, end-to-end support across the regulatory journey, including concept of operations development, UK SORA preparation, risk integrity and assurance evidence, operations manuals, safety management systems, compliance monitoring, personnel competence and application readiness. It will complement Avtrain’s Dublin base, which will continue to support EASA-related applications and clients across Europe. The office will also support Avtrain’s growing focus on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), helping clients and partners develop the regulatory, organisational and safety foundations required for growth in this emerging market. Avtrain recently supported Manna Air Delivery throughout its UK Civil Aviation Authority SORA SAIL III application, from initial preparation through to the grant of its SAIL III Operational Authorisation. Avtrain also supported Manna through the Recognised Assessment Entity for Flightworthiness (RAE(F)) process from start to finish, culminating in the grant of the first SAIL Mark Certificate ever issued in the UK. This end-to-end work demonstrates the depth of regulatory, organisational and technical support that Avtrain’s Bristol office will bring to UK clients.
Commenting at the Farnborough International Airshow on the announcement of the new office, the Founder and CEO of Avtrain, Capt Julie Garland BL, FRAeS, said, “Establishing a base in Bristol is an important step in Avtrain’s growth and reflects our long-term commitment to the UK market. Bristol is home to an exceptional aerospace and advanced engineering ecosystem and gives us the right base from which to work closely with operators, manufacturers and innovators across the UK. Our clients need practical, expert support to translate ambitious concepts of operation into robust UK CAA applications and operational systems. The Bristol office will allow us to be closer to them as they progress through UK SORA and prepare for the opportunities presented by LUC. Having spent 12 years supporting the drone industry, we are also looking ahead to AAM and how Avtrain can help enable safe, sustainable growth in this emerging market. I would especially like to thank Sean Long and Yvonne Elsorougi for their encouragement, introductions and practical support as we developed our plans for Bristol.”
Supporting the UK CAA’s developing LUC framework
The UK CAA’s 12-month LUC trial is designed to assess whether eligible UAS operators with mature organisational, safety and compliance systems can be granted privileges to authorise certain operations in the Specific Category without seeking a separate Operational Authorisation for every activity. The CAA has named organisations taking part in the trial, including Bristow, sees.ai, Skyports, Matternet and Callen-Lenz. Avtrain brings substantial European LUC experience to its UK expansion, having worked with every EASA LUC holder granted a certificate by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). Avtrain’s Bristol team will support operators seeking to build the governance, competence, safety management and compliance-monitoring capability needed for complex and scalable operations. This includes helping organisations align their operational documentation and management systems with UK SORA requirements and the emerging expectations of the LUC framework.
Announcement made at Farnborough International Airshow
Avtrain made the announcement on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, on its stand during the Ireland Pavilion’s on-stand networking reception at Farnborough International Airshow. Avtrain was exhibiting as part of the Enterprise Ireland and Government of Ireland Pavilion. The announcement was made in the presence of Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State for Employment, Small Businesses and Retail. Avtrain also acknowledged the support of Sean Long of Enterprise Ireland and Yvonne Elsorougi of Invest Bristol & Bath, part of the West of England Combined Authority, in helping the company develop its UK expansion plans and establish connections within the region.
Pictured above, from left: Eva O’Hagan, TJ Lazo, Capt Julie Garland, Founder and CEO of Avtrain; Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State for Employment, Small Businesses and Retail; Rowan Kidney-Clarke and Joe Fitzgerald of the Avtrain team, at the Ireland Pavilion, during the Farnborough International Airshow.
