Month: May 2021

SAM IS ....
Flyby Technology to train Turkish drone industry

Flyby Technology, one of the UK’s leading drone training and consultancy companies, has been awarded a first phase contract to supply expertise and training to the Turkish drone industry, worth a potential £11.2 million.  Flyby Technology will be providing training for ab initio pilots as well as training for pilots operating drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) at the professional level. The deal is one of the first British-Turkish deals since the two countries signed a new trade deal earlier in 2021.

Jon Parker FRAeS, Flyby Technology’s founder, described the deal as “An amazing opportunity to work with a country that is going places in the drone arena.  We are looking forward to sharing our knowledge and expertise, but also learning about the advances that Turkey has made in the last few years.”

Flyby Technology and its Turkish partner company, Fly BVLOS Technology, will be joining forces with the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority (SHGM) to help develop their new standards for drone operations, in advance of a predicted surge in civilian drone use in the region. The partnership is going to assist in developing drone infrastructure projects and contribute to international education initiatives. This will bring the quality of pilots flying drones weighing more than 25kg, up to manned aviation standards for the first time.

This new British-Turkish partnership has formed a collaboration with Gebze Technical University, one of Turkey’s top universities, to deliver high quality training to new pilots and university students to the standards of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).  At the advanced level, students will attend a two month-long BVLOS course flying heavy lift drones, where the aircraft have the capability to fly in the UK whilst the pilot is in Turkey.  By collaborating at this level, British students can enjoy reciprocal arrangements, offering a better weather factor during the winter. 

Fly BVLOS Technology founder, Kamil Demirkapu, commented, “We are so excited to be able to offer these courses created and developed by such a prestigious British aviation company.  Flyby’s BVLOS course is a world first, because it is structured in the same way as the training given to an airline pilot or fighter pilot.  Professional competency is the best way to accelerate our new and rapidly expanding drone industry in Turkey.  Technology is developing at an incredible rate, but unless the pilots are trained to maximise its benefits, we lose any opportunity it brings.  Flyby’s considerable training credentials have already enabled them to contribute to the safe operation of NHS drones flying over urban areas in the UK, and we look forward to seeing our collaboration bear the same fruit in Turkey.”

The Rector of Gebze Technical University, Prof Doctor Hasan Aslan, added, “The university is moving into a new era with this joint enterprise.  Industry specialisations are becoming increasingly more advanced, and our students will have a competitive advantage by holding a professional drone qualification when they graduate. They will receive the best training available, and this will also help them to understand that professional standards are essential to being successful in the jobs market.  With this programme our students will have a lot of fun whilst working hard to gain the knowledge required.  I got the opportunity to experience Flyby’s training first-hand in the UK. In creating their courseware, they bring together the best of military and civilian training expertise. They have their own embedded CAA examiners, experts in human factors and compliance authoring, and most of their instructors are from the British military who have flown high performance fighter jets and helicopters. More importantly, they were trained as instructors at the Central Flying School of the British Royal Air Force, the most elite flight training school in the world.  They make everything seem light-hearted and fun, but they bring the student up to the highest standards at the same time using the latest training science techniques.  It was a fascinating and very rewarding experience.”

The deal will see Flyby Technology undertaking the initial courses in Turkey, but then share their expertise in instructor training to allow Turkish instructors to continue delivering at the highest level.  Turkey is not a full signatory of EASA but recognises that alignment with a neighbour in the region will enable even more opportunities for the transfer of ideas and collaboration in the future.  Flyby Technology and its Turkish partner have been offered the use of three airfields across Turkey, and research and development facilities near Istanbul.  The Ministry of Industry  has approved the partnership to build large, work-class civilian aircraft and the SHGM will approve Flyby Technology’s BVLOS course as a necessary step to flying them on long-range BVLOS flights over urban areas, once the aircraft are built.  Jon Parker added, “The opportunities are endless with a deal like this, It would not be possible without the trust and vision of the Turkish aviation regulator. This approach, in combination with our deep knowledge and experience, will accelerate Turkey’s growth in this sector. It’s a partnership that embodies Flyby’s original vision for the future of the drone industry.”

Flyby Technology are a member of ARPAS-UK

14 May 2021

SAM IS ....
UK Government Backs World-First Programme to Build Air Architecture for Air Taxis and Delivery Drones
  • Coalition of industry and government, led by Urban-Air Port®, to create safe, clean and connected air corridors and ground infrastructure for future flying taxis and drones.
  • UK pioneers, Urban-Air Port®, Altitude Angel and Safeguard Vertiports, to deliver the technologies to build the future Air Architecture™ across the UK.
  • UK Government championing the Urban-Air Port® programme to strengthen UK leadership in the growing urban air mobility sector.
  • Urban-Air Port® and the Air Architecture™ will employ and support sustainable green technology in the fight against climate change.
  • First of more than 200 Urban-Air Port® hubs worldwide launching in Coventry in 2021 will demonstrate operational air corridors and ground infrastructure.
  • Urban-Air Port® will connect urban centres and under-served communities across the world – from vast modern cities to small towns and even off-grid villages.
  • Urban-Air Port® will provide multi-modal transport hubs of the future using net zero emissions and connecting air, road and rail to help unify transport networks, cut congestion and pollution.

Industry leaders Urban-Air Port® have announced a partnership with Altitude Angel and Safeguard Vertiports to design safe, clean and connected Air Architecture™ for future electric air taxis and autonomous logistics drones.

These ‘air roads’ will enable people and cargo to travel by manned and unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This world-first infrastructure programme, being demonstrated in Coventry later this year, is supported by the UK government as a significant step towards unlocking a future of clean urban air mobility for the UK and will provide a model for other countries to follow.

The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said:“Cleaner, inter-city flight technology is vital not only to reducing emissions, but to better connecting remote communities, from small towns in the UK to isolated settlements all around the world. As we build back greener from the pandemic, initiatives like the government-backed Air-One® project will help us develop the infrastructure needed to make our dreams of flying taxis a reality.”

The Government is supporting the development of urban air mobility to provide improved zero-carbon transport connectivity across the UK and reap the benefits from exporting these technologies to support this rapidly advancing global sector.

The global VTOL and drone market is estimated to be up to $2.9trn (£2.17trn) by 2040, according to Morgan Stanley.[i] In the US, NASA predicts urban air mobility could be worth up to $500bn (£375bn) in the near-term.[ii] eVTOLs and drones could enable doctors or medicine to get to patients in record time, urgent deliveries to arrive quickly without causing congestion or pollution and travellers and packages to reach remote communities that don’t have reliable road or rail.

However, NASA estimates that more than 70% of the potential urban air mobility market value is dependent on infrastructure[iii] – this value is what Urban-Air Port® is working to unlock. The company develops scalable, zero emission infrastructure for high frequency air mobility. Its Air-One® project is a world-first hub for future air taxis, drones and ground-based electric transport, such as cars, e-bikes and e-scooters, which will open in central Coventry later this year.

The urban air mobility market is growing fast. The first eVTOLs are expected to be commercialised in the next three to five years.[iv] Hyundai, a key partner of Urban-Air Port®, is one of several companies developing an eVTOL passenger vehicle. Hyundai’s will be commercialised by 2028.[v] Joby Aviation, the US-based aerospace start-up, plans to launch a commercial air taxi service in 2024.[vi] In April, UPS, the global logistics giant, announced a deal to purchase 150 eVTOL vehicles, for delivery in 2024, to cut delivery times and access smaller markets, demonstrating the growing maturity of the sector.[vii]

The challenge now is to design the Air Architecture™ that allows these passenger vehicles to fly within and between cities and towns and to manage the thousands of delivery drones anticipated in the future, with Amazon already planning to launch a UK drone delivery service.[viii]

Ricky Sandhu, Founder of Urban-Air Port®, said: “Our global transport systems are broken. Inner-city transport is congested, inefficient and polluted. In remote locations, it is either non-existent or over-priced, leaving many isolated and increasing economic disparity. But to fix this, we still look to siloed and ancient road and rail infrastructure.

“New innovations mean we can now reimagine transport to perfectly meet the needs of people and provide a cohesive, sustainable and reliable experience. Our Air Architecture™ can unlock clean and beautiful cities and connect the world in new ways – in the air and on the ground – bringing economic prosperity, cutting emissions and improving quality of life. This is a real British innovation success story – the UK can lead the world in accelerating this transport revolution.”

To create ‘air roads’ in which drones and eVTOLs will fly, Urban-Air Port® has formed a memorandum of understanding with fellow British innovators Altitude Angel and Safeguard Vertiports. Altitude Angel has developed an intuitive, cost-effective platform to digitally support the local Urban-Air Port® air traffic zone, enabling it to enhance and provide unified traffic management (UTM) Services. Safeguard Vertiports will develop a certification programme that will meet future Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations for safe operational turnarounds. The partners will work together to design, develop and demonstrate operational Air Architecture™ at the Urban-Air Port® Air-One® site later this year. 

Altitude Angel provides the world’s leading UTM platform which enables unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and manned eVTOL aviation, to fly between locations safely and securely. Urban-Air Port® is developing a MOU with the CAA and offering support alongside Safeguard Vertiports, a CAA registered member, to define and develop the certification process for future UTM Air Architecture™ and Urban-Air Port® operational requirements.

Richard Ellis, Chief Business Officer at Altitude Angel, said: “We are proud to be part of Air Architecture™. By enabling eVTOL operators to safely transit through ‘air roads’ and integrate their operations into and around these urban airports, we will unlock the future potential of the national airspace infrastructure. Our platform will allow all users of the sky, from air-taxis and drone operators to general aviation and emergency service helicopters to share the airspace safely and securely.”

Chris Wood, Operations Manager at Safeguard Vertiports, said: “We are proud to be part of this developing transport infrastructure, providing critical analysis and support for the development of certifications and standards that will ensure the safe design and use of the platforms in Air Architecture™.”

Air roads: a new Air Architecture™

Similar to existing air corridors for commercial aircraft, air roads will be approved and regulated routes for future eVTOLs that will enable safe and efficient travel between Urban-Air Port® hubs and other sites. In the initial phase, each corridor will provide segregated airspace at defined altitudes for individual manned and unmanned eVTOLs. Similar to traditional air traffic control, the process will initially be managed by people. As the systems mature, traffic monitoring will be conducted by intelligent autonomous systems and supervised by people.

The air roads will initially be separate from existing aircraft corridors, operating at a much lower altitude when unmanned. They will be created between strategic locations, away from buildings and roads. Once the safety and environmental benefits are demonstrated, the airspace will become increasingly unified and will gradually expand to more locations to meet rising demand.

Altitude Angel’s award-winning UTM platform enables manned and unmanned aircraft to be tracked, monitored, communicated with and controlled in unsegregated airspace in real-time. The company has already launched the world’s first commercial drone ‘test corridor’ in open and unrestricted airspace in the Thames Valley, west of London.

13 May 2021

SAM IS ....
Snowdonia Aerospace Centre to Deploy Altitude Angel’s GuardianUTM Enterprise Platform

London, UK:  Altitude Angel, the world’s leading UTM (Unified Traffic Management) technology provider, today announced the s (SAC) has become the second UK airport to deploy its GuardianUTM Enterprise platform.

ARPAS-UK Member, the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre, in Gwynedd, Wales, is one of Europe’s foremost commercial test centres for next-generation aerospace and future flight systems such as drones, electric aircraft, urban and regional air mobility vehicles, balloons, airships and near-space testing vehicles.

Launched in March this year, GuardianUTM Enterprise is an intuitive, cost-effective platform which has been developed to support regional and local airports and airfields to manage on and off-site drone operations.

GuardianUTM Enterprise will provide SAC with a combined view of the airspace in the vicinity of its FRZ (flight restriction zone), enabling the airport to start designing and providing UTM services for drone companies and drone operators, using Altitude Angel’s proven digital authorisation and flight management technology.

Karim Cosslett, Altitude Angel, Regional Sales & Partner Manager, said: “The Snowdonia Aerospace Centre plays a critical role in providing a safe testing and development environment for the next-generation of aerospace and future flight systems.  The deployment of GuardianUTM Enterprise allows Snowdonia Aerospace to comprehensively manage all aircraft in its airspace, whether manned or unmanned, and provide a safe, coordinated and efficient place to operate and test.”

Jeremy Howitt, Snowdonia Aerospace Centre, Future Flight Programme Lead, added: “We are pleased to add GuardianUTM Enterprise to the extensive Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) test capabilities at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre.

“Combined with the airspace change to create a permanent Danger Area, we have an unrivalled operational test environment for customers looking to accelerate the development of their drones, urban air mobility vehicles and other novel aerospace systems. The UTM capability will also form a key element of the layered detect-and-avoid solution that we’re developing under the UK Research & Innovation Future Flight Challenge, allowing us to provide a BVLOS drone service in support of Emergency Services across Wales.”

About Altitude Angel: 

Altitude Angel is an award-winning provider of UTM (Unified Traffic Management) software, enabling those planning to operate, or develop UTM/U-Space solutions, to quickly integrate robust data and services with minimum effort.

From a consistent, well-documented and standards-based platform, drone manufacturers such as DJI and cutting-edge software developers around the world use our Developer Platform to obtain rich, relevant and local geofencing data, exchange and share flight plans, de-conflict their own flights in real-time and interface with national flight authorisation systems. A growing portfolio of enhanced capabilities help our customers to comply with current and future regulations and interface with changing national systems with only minimal effort.

Altitude Angel’s first party solutions also power some of the world’s leading ANSPs, aviation authorities and Enterprises, including LVNL (Netherlands) and Avinor (Norway), empowering them with new capabilities to safely manage and integrate drone traffic into national operations.

Today, Altitude Angel’s market-defining technology is providing a critical, enabling service on which the future of UTM, especially in controlled airspace, will be built across the globe.

By unlocking the potential of drones and helping national aviation authorities, ANSPs, developers and enterprise organisations, Altitude Angel is establishing new services to support the growth in the drone industry.

Altitude Angel was founded by Richard Parker in 2014 and is headquartered in Reading, UK.  

Altitude Angel’s developer platform is open and available to all at https://developers.altitudeangel.com

About GuardianUTM: 

GuardianUTM enables drone manufacturers and software developers to connect into a rich, dynamic source of accurate, authoritative and relevant information to support geofencing, while offering enhanced UTM capabilities such as a single interface to multi-country flight authorisation. 

Its companion product, GuardianUTM O/S, supports all the functionality required to deliver national-grade drone traffic management capabilities to any country that wishes to safely unlock the potential of drones. 

11 May 2021

SAM IS ....
Allan Panthera and Pravo Consulting Announce Strategic Partnership and Launch Of ‘Campaign Catapult’ to Support Growth Of Dynamic UAS and Robotics Sector

New end-to-end service portfolio sets out to deliver enduring solutions to suit a range of budgets for new entrants, start-ups and developed mid to enterprise-size businesses operating in the Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) market. ‘Campaign Catapult’ will target current and aspiring disruptive leaders in a range of segments including Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) manufacturers, sensor and software innovators, counter drones,  the wider supply chain and robotics industries.

Cheltenham and Edinburgh (UK): 3rd May 2021: The opportunity to provide the UAS and wider robotics industry with seamless business and marketing support focused on whole-life  solutions has brought together Allan Panthera and Pravo Consulting in a strategic partnership.

The two complementary businesses, combining successful track records in the UAS market from Allan Panthera’s multi-sector operational and business strategy expertise, with Pravo Consulting’s marketing, PR and social media outreach and crisis communications for national and global players, will leverage the focus of both businesses on innovative and disruptive markets. The intention is to roll out the service from the UK to cover global markets, and to develop regional hubs, initially in North America and the Middle East, utilising Allan Panthera’s New York and Dubai offices, in addition to Pravo Consulting’s international associate network.

The Allan Panthera-Pravo Consulting partnership’s joint service solution, called Campaign Catapult, is launched in tandem with AUVSI XPONENTIAL’s hybrid online series 4-6 May; it is a scalable portfolio providing business, sales and marketing support on specific campaigns or on longer term projects, from C-suite advice and mentoring to implementation of programmes.

The global UAV market is set to be worth US$92 billion by 2030, with a CAGR rate of 25% over the US$9.5 billion in annual revenue for 2020. Of this revenue, 70% is in the commercial sector (US$63 billion). ¹ and new entrants and established operators need to differentiate in an increasingly competitive market.

“The drone and robotics markets provide lots of exciting potential and are an important focus area for BEIS (the UK’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy).  They provide exciting growth potential for innovation in both start-ups and more mature players.  I am pleased to support this new activity and the teams at Pravo Consulting and Allan Panthera are well regarded in their respective areas. The combination of the companies, and access to their specialists, will provide businesses with resources to help accomplish their goals without the need to add full time specialist skills in the crucial early stages of a company or project,” said Graham Brown, CEO at the Drone Trade Association ARPAS-UK.   

The team’s combined UAS experience, across commercial and defence sectors, include: research on drone standards, launch of rotary VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) UAVs and global roll out, support for UAV propulsion systems manufacturer and sensor deployment, creation of award winning drone service enterprise, commercial wins and project management of world first offshore operations, strategic insight papers, BVLOS proof of concept projects, ISR maritime security, blue chip service contracts, drone in a box commercialisation, global exclusivity agreements, mentorship/board advisory, foreign market entry, funding support, and many more.

“The Allan-Panthera-Pravo Consulting partnership is a powerful combination,” explained Philip Hicks, Founder and Principal Consultant of Pravo Consulting. “Allan-Panthera’s understanding of the legal and financial environment and how to navigate the multiple industry opportunities for those operating in the UAS sector is complementary to how Pravo Consulting works: they’ve actually been there and done it, and successfully, compared to others. This will enable us to help new and current players to develop opportunities in the exciting and fast-moving drone market.”

The two companies intend to focus efforts on the UAS and wider robotics market, followed by roll out to other disruptive technology sectors and will leverage established networks including Pravo Consulting’s worldwide associates.
“Partnering with Pravo Consulting to deliver enhanced value for our clients will allow us to provide the very best business and growth strategies to support the next generation of disruptive technologies, from two companies who have lived and breathed both the UAS sector and the markets they serve,” said Jamie Allan, Founder and CEO of Allan Panthera. “We’ve taken on three new staff to meet demand for our services, with further consultants joining in the summer. Campaign Catapult will enable our clients to access a portfolio of leading services to equip them for growth in one of the most exciting industry sectors, driving innovation and deployment of disruptive technologies and services.”

3 May 2021