CAA grants AALTO HAPS first ever Design Organisation Approval
Regulatory Milestone: AALTO received Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, a first for High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) in the UK.
Zephyr Aircraft: The approval is a step towards Type Certification for the Zephyr Z8 aircraft, aiming for global entry into service by 2026.
Investment and Development: This follows a $100 million investment by a Japanese consortium and preparations for a flight program in Kenya.
Technological Impact: Zephyr, a solar-powered HAPS, holds a flight-time record of over 64 days and offers applications like 5G connectivity and earth observation.
CAA CONSULTATION on DETECT AND AVOID POLICY due 19 Sep
The CAA policy consultation on their DAA policy concept is launched – seeking views on the proposed methodology and means of compliance. DAA is one of the cornerstones of integrated airspace, providing RPAS with the ability to ‘See and Avoid’ other air traffic, reducing the mid-air collision risk of RPAS operating in airspace with other users. With an agreed DAA methodology, the regulator and industry can work together towards making extended routine BVLOS operations in UK airspace become a reality.
SORA stands for Specific Operations Risk Assessment. It is the safety methodology developed by JARUS, a group of aviation experts from around the globe, including the CAA.
The CAA launched their policy consultation for a UK specific version of JARUS SORA 2.5, an internationally recognised set of recommendations and guidelines for conducting a risk assessment and meeting the required target levels of safety, including ensuring compliance with regulations and standards.
The expectation is that UK SORA will be implemented in H1 2025, via the DiSCO digital platform like PDRA01.
It is very important for OSC holders, and for those who wish to expand their operational authorisation beyond PDRA01.
If you would like to understand SORA, please watch our 2 webinars:
Also, to access the full JARUS SORA v2.5 including the annexes, click HERE: https://www.arpas.uk/safety-methodology-sora-v2-5-published-pack-accessible-here/
The CAA has published CAP3008 – our guide for operators who wish to carry out UAS BVLOS operations in the Specific Category in the UK under current regulations. The guide describes a number of current operational pathways for operating BVLOS, the authorisations and approvals required and the expected timelines. To help operators better understand these pathways, CAA subject matter experts will provide operators with the opportunity to discuss their BVLOS plans prior to them submitting a final application via our new service that provides operators with up to seven hours of advice on their initial application.
There is currently a strong industry demand for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operation of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) within the UK, and while forecast estimates vary, they consistently show a large increase in the sector over the next 10+ years. Perhaps the most significant barrier to the growth of this sector is the mid-air collision risk associated with Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s vision for the BVLOS RPAS operation within the UK is set out in the Airspace Modernisation Strategy, which describes a transition from the use of segregated airspace to integrated operations, supported by the use of Transponder Mandatory Zones (TMZs). In support of this vision, the CAA are now consulting on the proposed policy concept for the assurance of Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems.
ARPAS-UK Reg SIG will meet at the end of August to discuss this. If you are not in REG SIG or BVLOS SIG and have any comments, please contact membership@arpas.uk Thank you!
The report highlights key use cases, such as medical cargo delivery and urban air mobility. The report concisely describes for each:
✅ How tasks are performed today ✅ How this might change in the future ✅ What the benefits of using Future Flight tech could be ✅ How this supports sustainability ✅ What the challenges and timelines are ✅ How big the market opportunity is
UKRI’s Future Flight Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK and ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council, is a £300 million programme co-funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and industry to create a new aviation ecosystem for advanced air mobility, drones, and zero-emission regional aircraft. The Future Flight Challenge is helping to transform how we connect people, transport goods and deliver services in a sustainable way that delivers socio-economic benefits across the UK.
uAvionix, a leader in aviation surveillance solutions, announces the integration of its FlightLine surveillance services with Volant Autonomy’s advanced ITM (Integrated Traffic Management) system for ALIAS (Agile and Integrated Airspace System), a leading-edge UK Government $5M Future Flight Phase III project. The collaboration, showcased in the Channel Islands, is an important step forward in advancing the integration of unsegregated crewed and uncrewed operations into the UK airspace system and supporting Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations for Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). This exciting development highlights the capabilities of UAS for numerous airborne applications, particularly as the UK’s CAA begins to adopt SORA (Specific Operation Risk Assessment) as the roadmap to scalable BVLOS operations.
Following the successful completion of Project ALIAS in June 2024, Volant Autonomy has seen a surge in interest for their BVLOS enabling technology. uAvionix’s FlightLine system proved to be an invaluable asset in supporting the consortium’s demonstration flights. Anthony Lawrenson, COO of Volant Autonomy, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating:
“As the ALIAS Project Lead, I was very impressed with the support provided by uAvionix and the quality of their FlightLine system. I am confident this initial collaboration will lead to much greater opportunities in the near future. We picked up some great data while testing our Flyte Autonomy and DAA (Detect & Avoid) systems including high quality data from the FlightLine system that supported safe and coordinated operations of crewed and uncrewed aircraft.”
The integration of uAvionix FlightLine API into Volant’s system was quick and seamless; it delivered timely and reliable Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) positional data which formed an important part of the ALIAS Traffic Information Service (TIS). The provision of acquiring and utilizing high assurance positional data in collaboration with primary and secondary radar feeds from Ports of Jersey ATC (Air Traffic Control) is a key enabler for Volant’s DAA solution, which adheres to the RTCA’s ACAS sXu (Aircraft Collision Avoidance System) standards.
As well as providing safe and dynamic separation of Draken’s Diamond DA-42 with UAVs operated by SkyLift and SkyPorts, the latest ALIAS trials, saw SkyLift uncrewed aircraft operating in and out of Jersey Airport, in the Channel Islands, showcasing the realistic potential for the provision of multiple airborne services safely operating within a live ATC environment.
David Cleaver, CEO of Volant Autonomy, stated, “The use of the uAvionix FlightLine surveillance service aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver state-of-the-art ITM solutions to the global aerospace industry. Our combined expertise and technology, particularly in the development of certifiable DAA solutions, provide a robust framework for the future of BVLOS operations.”
Paul Beard, founder and CTO of uAvionix, added, “The integration of high assurance data and the use of aviation-grade certifiable systems are crucial to enabling scalable BVLOS operations in Europe and the US. The ALIAS project has provided an excellent platform to demonstrate these capabilities, showcasing how such advancements can significantly enhance the safety and reliability of integrated airspace systems.
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About uAvionix: uAvionix Corporation develops innovative aviation surveillance solutions to enhance airspace safety. Their products, including ADS-B transponders and receivers, are designed to meet the needs of both crewed and uncrewed aircraft. For more information about uAvionix and its aviation safety solutions, please visit https://uavionix.com/. Follow uAvionix on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube Contact for media: squawk@uAvionix.com
About Volant Autonomy: Volant Autonomy specializes in autonomous aviation technology, offering high assurance solutions for BVLOS operations. Their SORA aligned auto-planning systems, DAA, and advanced autonomous flight-guidance solutions are designed to improve safety and efficiency in the evolving landscape of ITM.
Volant Autonomy and uAvionix are ARPAS-UK members.
22 July 2024
SAM IS ....
Protected: £150million funding to enhance and protect the UK’s world-class landscapes
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23 July 2024 Drone Related Jobs
Disclaimer: All jobs posted here are from LinkedIn and other job sites including member and non-member organizations.
The CAA are recruiting for an RPAS Technical Support Officer.
Vertical Aerospace is recruiting for a number of positions: Advanced Simulation Engineer, Aircraft Electrical Technician, Avionic Technician (FTC) and EWIS Design Engineer.
We’re excited to introduce BSI Flex 1903 v2.0 Future Flight Systems – Vocabulary 🎉
BSI Flex 1903 v2.0 includes definitions of 146 terms and 72 acronyms used in future flight systems and the ecosystem in which they operate. This updated version offers key updates to meet the sector’s evolving needs.
Authored by Anthony Venetz, an ARPAS-UK Member, and sponsored by UK Research and Innovation, it marks a significant step in establishing a common language to empower all future flight stakeholders.
The benefits of using BSI Flex 1903
Flex 1903 v2.0 provides a common vocabulary enabling clear communication and collaboration.
It accelerates trust in new air vehicles, driving innovation and supporting commercialization.
The vocabulary helps to develop your expertise and keep up to date with the latest technology.
It supports legislators, regulators, insurers and organizations directly involved in future flight.
