The CAA issued on December 22 an amended version of its earlier CAP 722: Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace – Guidance.
To access the document on the CAA website, click here.
We will review and comment the CAP722 series in our membership engagement activities.
Disclaimer: All jobs posted here are from LinkedIn and other job sites including member and non-member organizations.
Flare Bright are looking to boost their team early next year with a number of new contracts. They are hiring for the following positions:
Office Manager and Admin
Software Engineering Manager
Senior Embedded Software Test Engineer
Software Engineer
(US) Business Development Manager
If you are interested in a role at Flare Bright please get in touch by sending your CV to careers@flarebright.com.
Skeye is looking to recruit a UAV pilot.
Celestial is hiring their Global Marketing Manager. If you are interested in applying, please send your cover letter and CV to hr@celestial.show. Please title your email Global Marketing Manager.
Team UAV is hiring for the following positions:
Software Engineer
Drone Pilot
Senior Operator
Digital Content Producer
Ajuno is looking to recruit a Senior Consultant for Drone Safety.
In June 2022, Ofcom launched a consultation to look at the spectrum that UAS use.
26 individuals and organisations, including ARPAS-UK, responded to the Ofcom Consultation.
One of the main issues behind the need for the consultation was that for many years Ofcom have authorised the use of radio equipment on model aircraft and drones operating in visual line of sight via their licence exemption regime. This has been possible as these aircraft use low power equipment whose use would not be likely to cause interference to other users of the spectrum. New UAS technology and applications, especially the ability to fly greater distances and to transmit back more information, such as high quality video, have created new demands for spectrum to support beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) usage.
Ofcom have decided to introduce a new UAS Operator Radio licence to authorise the use of radio equipment on drones. The authorisation of this equipment is an enabler for drones to be operated beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The licence authorises a range of equipment that an operator may choose to use or be required to carry by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The UAS Operator Radio licence will:
This licence does not replace the current licence exemption regime for low power 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz equipment which most drones on the market currently fall under.
This licence authorises spectrum use in accordance with the licence terms and conditions. Drone operators will continue to need to adhere to any air safety requirements and other regulations regarding the operation of their UAS set by the CAA, the UK’s aviation regulator.
The Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Symposium is now available to watch again on ICAO TV
The RPAS Symposium 2022 was one of the premiere RPAS events worldwide, focusing on the technology, operations, and certification of RPAS. Review the event directory here.
Participants had the opportunity to learn about the regulatory framework being developed for RPAS and how it will be implemented by experts directly involved in the work.
Watch the DRONE ENABLE Symposium on ICAO TV
DRONE ENABLE 2022, ICAO’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Industry Symposium, was held at ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, Canada. Review the event directory here.
The symposium brought together key stakeholders and focused on the complex issues presented by UAS traffic management (UTM), which need to be addressed collectively to integrate UAS into the global aviation system.
You will find attached / below the Egis reports on Electronic Conspicuity. They were undertaken on behalf of the DfT and CAA and propose another step forwards on the road to regular un-segregated BVLOS Operations.
As such, the recommendations should be welcomed and have our support.
- Phase 1 report – www.caa.co.uk/CAP2498A
- Phase 2 report – www.caa.co.uk/CAP2498B
- Phase 3 report – www.caa.co.uk/CAP2498C
Rupert Dent, Director Policy & Regulations
December 2022
Even if the perception of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) is that they are becoming more autonomous, people are still a key part of the system and ensuring they are taking account of Human Factors implications and feel they are working in a Just Culture is essential.
FEEDBACK is CHIRP’s regular publication that seeks to communicate the occurrences we are informed about, draw some lessons, and pass them on to flyers who might benefit. In doing so, CHIRP Drone Feedback Edition 6 reviews a number of UAS accidents/incidents and offers thoughts on the Human Factors aspects – we hope you find them useful.
So, what sort of reports have we seen and are there any trends emerging since the issue of FEEDBACK Edition 5?
Well, we have seen a majority of Human Factors reports of course, but we have now received our first Just Culture report, which we are currently working on. Whilst we do not review it in this issue, we are hoping we can report in full in the next issue of FEEDBACK which will be issued around March / April of 2023. Even if the perception of RPAS is they are becoming more autonomous, people are still a key part of the system and ensuring they are taking account of Human Factors implications and feel they are working in a Just Culture is essential
Rupert Dent, ARPAS-UK Director Policy & Regulations AND CHIRP UAS Programme Manager
19 December 2022
Disclaimer: All jobs posted here are from LinkedIn and other job sites including member and non-member organizations.
A-techSYN are recruiting for a Head of Drone Operations. An excellent job for the right person!
Air Data Systems is looking to recruit a BVLOS RPAS Pilot – PIC (overseas deployment).
Inzpire Limited is looking to recruit an UNCREWED AIR SYSTEMS (UAS) INSTRUCTOR.
Environ Property Services Ltd are looking to recruit a Videographer & Editor, Drone Pilot – Immediate start available!
Ajuno is looking to recruit a Senior Analyst.
Social Awaken is looking to recruit a Freelance Videographer & Editor/FPV Drone Operator.
HR GO Recruitment is looking to recruit a Service Engineer.
Malloy Aeronautics Ltd is looking to recruit a UAS Design Engineer.
EKFB is looking for a Land Surveyor.
IONA is looking to recruit Support/Advisors/Future Hires: IONA (start-up aerospace/cleantech).
Vision Survey Ltd is looking to recruit a Trainee Surveyor.
LandScope Engineering Ltd is looking for a Hydrographic Surveyor.
Stewart Golf Ltd is looking for a Videographer and Editor.
Networx3 UAV is using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites to provide a live feed of its drone flights anywhere and everywhere in the world.
Access to the low orbit satellite internet service has revolutionised how Networx3 UAV’s team of five commercial drone pilots conduct client work.
Using Starlink, and the cloud-based drone admin system FlightHub2, the Networx3 UAV drone fleet can now beam back real-time video of flights from the UK’s most inaccessible places.
The new technology allows Networx3 UAV to work in locations such as remote quarries, culverts, sewers, isolated reservoirs and rural solar or wind farms without having to factor in patchy conventional internet access or ‘internet dead zones’.
Thanks to Networx3 UAV’s investment in Starlink and FlightHub2 there is now nowhere in the four nations from where live drone footage can’t be beamed into a client’s office, mobile phone, laptop or boardroom anywhere in the world.
With a Starlink dish mounted to the Networx3 UAV’s mobile control center van their drones connect to the 3,000- strong satellite network orbiting 550km above the Earth.
Networx3 UAV managing director Ian Ashworth, and commercial drone pilot, said: “Networx3 UAV is now operating at a level where very few drone operators can operate. We have invested heavily in this serious, expensive and complex tech and we can guarantee that our drones can beam back stills and video, in real-time, from the most far-flung and remote internet black spots anywhere in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
“We’re really excited about the work we can now do in mine shafts, pipework, green energy plants and from mountain tops to deep valleys.
“We envisage clients watching their live stream and directing the pilot to particular points of interest or simply watching the flight unfold.”
The Starlink advanced satellite system has only been available in the UK since January 2021. It was designed, as a civilian program, to provide internet to undersupplied regions far from urban centers beaming internet connections to hard-to-reach places across the globe.
But recently Starlink has been a vital source of connectivity during Russia’s war in Ukraine. The satellite network has been used to connect Ukraine with the internet and help it win the drone war.
Stockport-based tech company Comms Byte worked with Networx3 UAV to complete the Starlink install.
Director Amjad Shakeel said: “Comms-Byte specialises in helping customers build and maintain IT infrastructure for different types of business situations so the Starlink install was one that we were eager to be involved with.
“It is an innovative, cutting-edge technology with new age, almost sci-fi-like, hardware. The solution allows Networx3 UAV to help its customers to see real-time information of live projects.”
To find out more visit www.networx3uav.co.uk.
UKRI partner with the Institution of Engineering and Technology
The day is run by a team for the IET but we have been approached to see if some volunteers from our drone engineering community can support. There is no pre-training required as much of it is just encouraging the students and helping out with some practical tasks such as running the ‘shop’ for materials.
Information from the the IET
The renowned Faraday Challenge Days are an annual STEM competition, which enables young people, aged 12 to 13 years, to really experience what it’s like to work as a team of engineers tackling a real-world challenge.
We work in partnership with industry to offer themes ranging from aerospace to theme parks, space exploration to railways and healthcare.
Teams of students work together to research, design and make a prototype solution to budget and present their findings.
They also benefit by developing their practical and employability skills, including team working, problem-solving and creative thinking.
Throughout the activity, they are introduced to engineering principles and inspired to think about possible career paths in to engineering.
Faraday Challenge Day events are designed as cross-curricular STEM activity days and are set up and run by our team of professionals at no charge to schools.
The confirmed dates are attached. These will be across the UK and run through to early June. If you or your colleagues working on future flight activities are interested, please email faraday@theiet.org with what events you/they would like to attend. They can accommodate up to 2 volunteers per event. We would appreciate you letting membership@arpas.uk if you choose to take part.
The Drone Industry Action Group met on the following dates and the minutes and presentations are available. If you have any questions or would like to attend, please get in touch via membership@arpas.uk