18 February 2026
A new drone pilot training school has opened at West Wales Airport – the former RAF Aberporth – by Tekever, one of Europe’s leading providers of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Tekever acquired the airport last July and has been operating at the site since 2023, testing drones. The new drone school has been fully operational since January 2026, delivering training for both the company’s own operators and external customers.
Tekever says the airport remains open to use by General Aviation but pilots should note there are UAS operations often taking place in the restricted flying area around the airfield.
Special attention should be given to NOTAM and other flight planning materials as well as the airport’s PPR status. The airport is CAA licenced and located located 1.5 miles from the coast at Aberporth, Wales.
Tekever’s new training base at West Wales Airport. Photo: Tekever
Over the course of 2026, Tekever says it expects to train more than 120 students. The Training School includes briefing and training rooms, simulators, hands-on technical resources, and ground-based Tekver aircraft and components to support practical learning.
Tekever adds, “West Wales Airport also has an established environment for unmanned aircraft activity, including access to dedicated segregated airspace for safe UAS testing and evaluation, supporting a range of mission profiles from line-of-sight trials to beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations.”
Stewart Pearce, Head of Regulations & Training at Tekever, said, “This Training School is a big step forward for our UK capability. It gives us a consistent, repeatable way to pass on hard-won operational expertise, raise training standards, and develop the people who sustain and operate our systems. Just as importantly, it lets us fully make use of the unique training environment we have in West Wales.”
