The Center for Drone Innovation Normandy (CIDN) is working on a new system that will allow drones to fly over the sea for long distances, even when the operator can't see them directly. At the UAV Show, held from October 7 to 9 in Bordeaux, the Normandy region will showcase its upcoming maritime test area, which is set to open in 2027. This project, supported by the National Aerospace Establishment (NAE), has been under development for five years. The CIDN has built infrastructure that allows drones to be tested in conditions similar to those they will face in real-world use. The CIDN’s U-Space platform includes three main environments: a drone hub, an airport zone, and soon a maritime zone. The maritime zone is especially important because it will allow tests to be conducted beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the pilot, over much greater distances. When combined with the airport facilities, this setup will enable a wide range of testing scenarios, from short-distance flights to long-range operations over the sea. The CIDN has already tested several drone applications. These include detecting drones using Drone XTR, transporting heavy loads with AFT Drones, and using VTOL drones from Delivrone to deliver defibrillators and transport blood samples. The new maritime test area will expand the range of experiments that can be conducted. Since 2023, the Normandy test center has been part of the French network of civil test centers, managed by ONERA, under the support of DGAC-DSAC. It also takes part in the European UAS Test Center Alliance network. In Bordeaux, the CIDN will be represented by four Normandy-based companies: ABOT, which focuses on professional drones; CAP Atlas, specializing in drone inspections and geospatial analysis; DAE System, working in aerospace and terrestrial engineering and mechatronics; and ROAV7, a company that specializes in drone inspections in industrial and petrochemical environments.