Flarebright, a rapidly growing UK-based leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology, has passed a major regulatory milestone following a successful flightworthiness assessment by Marshall Aerospace.
The company’s Extera flight termination system has received a SAIL 2 Certificate from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), demonstrating design compliance with relevant safety requirements and paving the way for wider commercial use.
SAIL (short for Specific Assurance and Integrity Level) is part of the CAA’s risk-based assessment for UAS. The SAIL Mark certificate effectively provides a design “passport” for assured UAS requirements that can be used by multiple customers without being revisited.
Extera is a hardware and software solution designed to assure containment during critical drone operations. Using a fully independent communications link separate from the aircraft’s primary systems, the system enables operators to end the aircraft’s flight at the touch of a button, supporting safe UAS usage in complex and constrained environments.
In March 2026, Extera was selected as one of five products to receive a SAIL Mark assessment from Marshall under a grant programme established by the CAA with funding from Innovate UK and the Department for Transport.
Marshall provided Flarebright and the CAA with an independent flightworthiness report for Extera, including an analysis of the system’s compliance with CAA requirements and a SAIL Mark recommendation. The CAA subsequently awarded Extera the SAIL 2 certification.
“Achieving SAIL 2 certification is a major step towards making Extera available as a commercial product for UAS operators across survey and inspection, delivery and drop, and constrained-environment testing.
“The professionalism and engagement from Marshall have been very welcome, and made this entire process very positive and smooth for our team as we got to grips with SAIL compliance.”
Dr. Carl Sequeira
Interim Chief Technology Officer, Flarebright
Only CAA‑designated Recognised Assessment Entities for Flightworthiness, or RAE(F)s, are authorised to conduct SAIL Mark assessments. Marshall was one of the first organisations in the UK to secure this designation, achieving RAE(F) status shortly after the launch of the scheme.
“Having worked closely with the Flarebright team over recent months, we are delighted to see Extera achieve this well-earned SAIL Mark certification.
“This is the latest example of how Marshall’s flightworthiness and regulatory expertise supports growth in the UK’s drone sector by helping innovative products reach the market safely.”
Mark Hewer
Aero Engineering Services Director, Marshall Aerospace