Month: July 2024

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15 July 2024 Drone Related Jobs

Disclaimer: All jobs posted here are from LinkedIn and other job sites including member and non-member organizations.

Bridgeway Consulting is looking to recruit an Assistant Drone Operator.

Vacancies Board (bridgeway-consulting.co.uk)

Aerialworx is looking to recruit a Sales & Operations Manager

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Skyports Infrastructure is looking for a Remote Pilot Specialist.

View job

Cyberhawk is looking to recruit multiple positions.

Keltbray is looking to recruit Land Surveyor Drone Pilots.

View job

Bristol City Council is looking to recruit a Bridge Inspector, with “CAA drone operator accredited qualification”.

View job

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary is looking to recruit a CAD Surveyor, involving amongst other tasks the processing of photogrammetric drone survey imagery

View job

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DroneX Tradeshow & Conference 24-25 Sept 2024

DroneX Exhibition and Conference is Europe’s largest business event dedicated to the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) industry.

Event Date: The event will take place on 24th and 25th September 2024 at Excel London.

Speakers: Over 150 speakers from various sectors, including future of flight, commercial, emergency services and military & defence, will share insights and trends in UAV technology.

DroneX Connect: The show floor provides a platform for professionals across the drone ecosystem to connect with each other and potential suppliers.

Industry-Leading Awards: These awards recognize innovations and impact in UAV technology sectors.

Exhibitors: ARPAS-UK members can avail themselves of a 10% discount. Contact membership@arpas.uk for the code.

Visiting the Show: The event is open from 10am to 4pm on both days. As an added bonus, tickets are free.

If you’re interested in UAV technology, this event is a great opportunity to learn, network, and explore the latest developments!

DroneX website

DroneX is co-located with the Advanced Air Mobility Expo and Helitech.

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PAS 1905 Future flight systems – Regulatory principles, management systems and life cycle assurance processes – Guide

BSI is excited to launch the public consultation for PAS 1905, their new draft guidance on future flight regulatory principles, management systems, and lifecycle assurance processes.

PAS 1905 is designed to help innovators and new entrants and support successful scaling and industrialization. Your feedback is crucial to ensure the standard reflects diverse perspectives.

Read the draft and comment now:

Comment period start date: 17/07/2024
Comment period end date: 21/08/2024

Scope

This PAS provides guidance on key aviation regulatory principles, management systems and assurance system frameworks that underpin the aviation product life cycle, support safe routine operations within the shared airspace, and which are essential for successful scaling and industrialization.

As well as providing an overview of the aviation systems, this PAS provides signposts to existing regulations and standards, highlighting the core information applicable to the wide range of emerging types of aircraft and their systems as covered within the scope of the Future Flight Challenge, including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft.

This PAS provides practical guidance and, where practicable, basic examples, including appropriate, generic use cases.

This PAS does not include:

  • examples of compliance documents;
  • major indexes of material;
  • locations of existing regulations and standards; or
  • recreational use cases.

This PAS is of use to new entrants who are developing, deploying, operating or supporting future flight systems, including supply chain partners, as well as existing organizations considering to scale within the sector.

It might also be of interest to wider stakeholder communities, including investment and insurance organizations looking to assess risk management aspects, local authorities and business opportunity planners, as well as communities across society that have concerns and an interest in how these new aviation sectors are regulated.

17 July 2024

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HexCam obtains 9km drone flight permission

HexCam can now fly BVLOS-VM (BVLOS with Visual Mitigation) out to 9km from a Remote Pilot – a great step on its journey towards fully BVLOS flights.

HexCam’s journey towards carrying out drone survey flights Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) received a major boost and reached a significant milestone today with the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) full approval of their latest ‘Phase 3’ Operating Safety Case (OSC).

Their new CAA ‘Operational Authorisation’ allows them to fly their DJI M300 series survey drones further than ever before – up to 9km (5.6 miles) away from a Remote Pilot (RP). This marks a significant increase from their previous 2.5km limit and has required them to thoroughly demonstrate and prove their methods of conducting and managing longer-range flights.

They’ve been able to safely achieve this extended flight range using a combination of:

  • Establishing reliable drone Command and Control (C2) over the mobile phone network using drone-specific SIMs from “Etc. At BT Group“.
  • Use of fully qualified Visual Observers (VOs), positioned within 2.5km of the drone, maintaining Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) at all times.
  • Addition of high output strobes to enhance visibility of the drone at longer ranges.
  • Use of PilotAware ‘FX’ Electronic Conspicuity on the drone combined with live ‘Virtual RADAR’ data from the network of PilotAware ATOM stations to support and enhance the situational awareness of the Remote Pilot and Visual Observers during flight missions.

By combining this increased range with their existing 2 pilot ‘handover’ method of operation, they can now safely cover an 18km segment of a linear construction project, such as a cable or pipeline corridor, end to end, in just one single flight, using 2 Remote Pilots and 3 Visual Observers.

Reducing their presence on the ground and minimising the need to seek permission to enter land can be a great help when surveying long linear infrastructure projects. By extending the distance between crew members on the ground from 2.5km out to 4.5km intervals, disturbance to landowners, their livestock and to sensitive ecosystems can be significantly reduced.

Achieving reliable Command and Control over the mobile phone network is a huge step towards their goal of fully BVLOS survey and inspection flights. Their new permissions now pave the way for even longer flights using larger drones with longer battery endurance.

Hexcam is an ARPAS-UK member.

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Commercial UAV Expo: Las Vegas, USA 3-5 September 2024

Sep 3: Outdoor Flying Demos, Exhibitor Showcases, Workshops, Welcome Reception
Sep 4-5: Conference, Keynotes, Networking Happy Hour, Exhibit Hall Theater  & Exhibits

Event Description
Commercial UAV Expo, presented by Commercial UAV News, is the world’s leading commercial drone trade show and conference focusing on the integration and operation of commercial UAS in select vertical markets.

2024 marks the 10th edition of Commercial UAV Expo, demonstrating a passionate continued commitment to the commercial UAS industry. Since its inception, Commercial UAV Expo has aimed to serve as an essential platform for collaboration, and knowledge exchange amid the ongoing growth and revolution of the commercial UAS sector – and this year is set to be its biggest yet.

Commercial UAV Expo

ARPAS-UK has TWO free guest passes for the event to give to members. These are for the full 3-day conference passport, which includes all workshops, sessions, exhibits, receptions and AI-powered matchmaking. They do not include flights there, accommodation or any other expenses. They are available on a first come, first served basis. Please contact membership@arpas.uk

Commercial drone professionals are eagerly anticipating Commercial UAV Expo 2024, where they can look forward to critical, timely education delivered by industry leaders, opportunities to network and engage with peers, and the best opportunity of the year to see and learn about the newest technology through conference sessions, workshops, and live-action Outdoor Flying Demonstrations. The show floor features an expanded exhibit hall with an expected 225 industry-leading providers showcasing their latest UAS solutions including airframes, software, sensors, and services.  The event is expected to attract 3,750 commercial drone professionals from around the world and is backed by more than 300 associations and media companies.

The conference program provides actionable information in Keynote Presentations and industry focused panels, where drone innovators, regulators, and end-users share their expertise and vision and discuss the critical issues facing the industry; solutions-based conference sessions that offer practical, actionable education for professionals working with UAS across markets including construction, infrastructure, and energy & utilities; and in-depth conference sessions that provide up-to-the-minute information on topics that affect everyone in UAS, such as FAA regulations, BVLOS operations, technology adoption, accuracy requirements, safety, power, and more.

The Drone Pilot Hub is a new, dynamic space in the Commercial UAV Exhibit Hall that will feature content tailored for attendees who are new or current professional drone pilots. Learning opportunities include drone pilot preparations for Part 107 tests, discussion of standard operating procedures and best practices for flights, and details of regulation and documentation.

Commercial UAV Expo and Commercial UAV News are organized by Diversified Communications, a global event producer that also organizes Commercial UAV Expo Europe, Digital Construction Week and Geo Business (London, UK), and Geo Week (Denver, CO).

Keynotes:

This year’s Commercial UAV Expo keynotes are set to define what it means to accelerate commercial viability for drone technology on a whole new level. Keynoters will answer these questions and more while also outlining developments that will have a profound impact on the entire drone industry.

  • What are some of the most pivotal changes, challenges, and implications shaping the landscape of commercial drone regulation from the FAA?
  • What does it mean for a “drone champion” to define efficiencies that the technology can unlock for large organizations in the public and private sectors?
Speakers

Reasons to attend:

  •  Are we finally beyond the hype? For years, drone technology rode a wave of speculative excitement, promising explosive growth. While this hype proved unsustainable and led to industry consolidation, it was rooted in a genuine vision of the value drones could offer. In 2024, that value is finally being demonstrably quantified, marking a clear shift into a post-hype era. However, the question remains: has the industry definitively climbed out of the initial slump, or is it merely on an upward trajectory? Whether the technology is fully through the trough or on an upward slope will be a major topic of discussion at Commercial UAV Expo.
  •  What are the top real-world use cases of drone technology?
    Commercial UAV Expo is set to showcase the tangible impact drones are delivering across industries in a whole new way. In Energy & Utilities, drones are optimizing operations and inspections. In Construction, they’re creating value out of thin air. For Critical Infrastructure Inspections, they’re enhancing safety and efficiency. These specifics will be broken down in separate education tracks, each of which will feature multiple case studies that will outline exactly where and how the technology is creating value.
  •  Will Part 108 redefine commercial drone regulation?
    Part 107 unlocked a new era for commercial drones, but Part 108 could be an even bigger milestone. This groundbreaking FAA rule will unleash a wave of lucrative opportunities and supercharge existing applications, allowing drones to truly scale across countless industries. This topic will be specifically explored during a Part 108 brief but will dominate conversations across the program and floor.
  •  What does it mean for the drone pilot community to come together?
    As the commercial drone industry evolves, so do the opportunities for drone pilots. Technological leaps, evolving regulations, and growing industry recognition are fueling these opportunities, but how can pilots best navigate these new developments? And who can pilots look to for support? For the first time ever, Commercial UAV Expo will offer dedicated education and networking—designed specifically for drone pilots—to answer these questions individually but also for the larger drone pilot community.
  •  What’s the latest for drones and AI?
    The UAV industry is at the forefront of breakthroughs in automation and artificial intelligence (AI). Drone data is being utilized to create detailed 3D models for inspections, and it is also guiding drones through areas with no GPS signal, all of which is happening thanks to AI-enabled innovations. From streamlined flight plans to advanced security systems to operations that counter rogue drones, AI is making a difference in multiple sectors. Commercial UAV Expo will showcase how drone companies are harnessing automation and AI to make their operations more efficient, safer, and more profitable.
  •  Who are the individuals and organizations defining the future of the industry?
    The drone industry is defined by the innovators, visionaries, and disruptors who are bringing fresh approaches to current challenges. This year’s program features individuals who are shaping the present and future of the industry, while the exhibit floor will feature industry stalwarts that are doing the same. Additionally, several companies that are new to Commercial UAV Expo will be showcasing their products and services. Discover the established giants and rising stars who are shaping the future of drones.
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UK’s first permanent vertiport unveiled at Snowdonia Aerospace Centre

  • Bristol-based technology company SLiNK-TECH sold its flagship PORTAL vertiport system to Snowdonia Aerospace Centre in January
  • The vertiport, launched this week, is the first permanent installation of its kind in the UK
  • The installation will help Snowdonia Aerospace Centre to servethe UK and global drone industry.

The UK’s first permanent vertiport will be officially unveiled tomorrow in Llanbedr, North Wales. SLiNK-TECH designed the first vertiport of its kind in the UK, the launch of which marks a significant milestone for the UK drone industry.

Snowdonia Aerospace Centre (SAC) purchased PORTAL in January and completed installation last week. The advanced landing solution is highly automated and provides integrated flight management at any location.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with SAC to bring this innovative new system to the UK,” said John Goudie, CEO of SLiNK-TECH. “Our PORTAL vertiport system is a game-changer for the future of flight, and we are confident that our installation at SAC will provide significant benefits to testing of future use cases.”

To mark the occasion industry leaders and policymakers will be travelling to Llanbedr for the PORTAL Party, an event featuring state-of-the art demonstrations and expert talks over two days. The addition of a vertiport to its site highlights SAC’s commitment to encouraging innovation and supporting technological advancement in the UK.

CEO of SAC, Lee Paul, said: “Snowdonia Aerospace is excited to be supporting SLiNK-TECH with the testing of the PORTAL vertiport concept and we look forward to working together to create a legacy capability at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre for the drone and air mobility communities to test and train in an archetype of future UK lower airspace management”

PORTAL was installed at SAC at the end of June and will be used for testing and trials at the site.

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About SLiNK-TECH
SLiNK-TECH Ltd (SLiNK) is a Bristol, UK-based technology company, pioneering drone and vertiport automation solutions built to scale the future of flight economy, enabling safe, low cost, automated drone launch and landing with minimal infrastructure in any environment.

The company, founded in 2018, has been developing their advanced landing solution, which is safe, low cost and highly automated. Their vision is to make the benefits of drone logistics available across all industries and applications.

About Snowdonia Aerospace Centre
Snowdonia Aerospace LLP operates the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre, Llanbedr, Gwynedd, the premier commercial UK test centre for next-generation aerospace including “drones-for-good”. They have also established Snowdonia Aerospace Drone Services Ltd. to further develop and commercially exploit the output of their research.

Both SLiNK-TECH and Snowdonia Aerospace Centre are ARPAS-UK members.

16 July 2024

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Our Welcome Letter to new DfT Aviation Minister: Michael Kane MP

ARPAS-UK congratulates Mike Kane MP Wythenshawe and Sale East on his appointment as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Transport.

Michael Kane has been MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East since 2014. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a BA in Social Sciences in 1997 and a PGCE in 1999. He went on to serve on the Manchester City Council for over a decade. Michael Kane was elected as MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East in 2014 and has remained in post ever since.

In October 2016, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn appointed Kane to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Education with responsibility for Schools.

ARPASUK Letter to Minister KaneDownload
More on ARPAS-UK’s strategy

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Royal Holloway University’s New £2.5M Omnidrome Research Facility: A Unique Opportunity

Royal Holloway University has made a significant leap forward in research and innovation with a £2.5 million investment into the Omnidrome Research & Innovation Centre. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for pioneering research and development in various advanced technological fields, focusing on unmanned autonomous systems (UAS/UAVs), robotics, artificial intelligence, and information security.

Omnidrome: Pioneering the Future

The Omnidrome at Royal Holloway University is poised to become a world-leading centre for research, innovation, education, and knowledge exchange, dedicated to the study and application of drones and autonomous vehicles. This new facility will address contemporary and future challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering an environment where cutting-edge research can thrive.

Research and Innovation at Omnidrome

The Omnidrome Research & Innovation Centre aims to support a broad range of research initiatives, including:

  • Robotics, AI, and Information Security: Focusing on the development and secure integration of autonomous systems.
  • Drone and Sensor Technology: Advancing the capabilities and applications of aerial, surface, and submersible drones.
  • Environmental Monitoring: Utilizing drone technology for geospatial analysis of environmental, ecological, and geological systems.
  • Law, Culture, Arts, and Humanities: Exploring the legal, cultural, and social implications of drone technology.

Building a Collaborative Community

The Omnidrome is dedicated to nurturing a diverse and multidisciplinary community of researchers, educators, technical staff, and students. The Centre will also build a robust network of academic and non-academic collaborators, including business, industry, government partners, and NGOs. This collaborative environment aims to:

  • Develop funding opportunities and promote impactful research.
  • Train staff and students in drone industry applications and software skills.
  • Support student research projects and geospatial data analysis.

Unique Features of Omnidrome

What sets the Omnidrome apart is its comprehensive approach to research and innovation:

  • Unrestricted Research Directions: Supporting all ideas and opportunities within the Omnidrome Innovation Network.
  • Multidisciplinary Expertise: Engaging academics from arts, humanities, science, and social sciences to address diverse research challenges.
  • Industry Partnerships: Directly addressing sector-specific challenges through innovative solutions and economic benefits.

Membership and Opportunities

The Omnidrome offers membership to an innovation network of academic and non-academic collaborators. Membership benefits include:

  • Direct networking opportunities with academic researchers and industry practitioners.
  • Discounts on access to the Omnidrome Training and Testing Facility and other resources.
  • Invitations to annual events, including a research and education conference and a networking and partnerships meeting.

Training and Testing Facilities

The Omnidrome provides state-of-the-art facilities for drone training, testing, and development:

  • Controlled Environment: A bespoke facility measuring 25m x 35m x 10m for safe and robust testing.
  • Training Areas: Dedicated spaces for visual line-of-sight flight training and sensor applications.
  • Technical Infrastructure: Access to high-capacity electrical power systems, drone support vehicles, and specialized equipment.

Join Us at the Omnidrome Innovation Networking Event

On behalf of Royal Holloway University, We are delighted to invite knowledge exchange professionals and industry brokers to the Omnidrome Innovation Networking Event on Tuesday, July 23, from 10.00 to 16.30 at the Royal Holloway University Campus in Egham. This event will feature expert talks, workshops, and opportunities to connect with peers in the field of drone and robotics technology.

For further information and to register, please contact KnowledgeExchange@rhul.ac.uk.

Explore how our Omnidrome facilities could benefit your work and that of your stakeholders. Find out more at royalholloway.ac.uk/research/omnidrome.

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Project BLUEPRINT trials lay groundwork for open-architecture UK UTM system

Philip Hicks, partner at Campaign Catapult and Principal Consultant and Founder of Pravo Consulting reports on the latest milestones achieved by industry drone and sensor experts and academics in the pursuit of mixed use air space and safe operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations have taken a step forward in the UK with the culmination of the Project BLUEPRINT showcase presented at Cranfield University’s Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) on 25 June. This initiative, under the Innovate UK Future Flight Challenge, aims to develop open-source solutions for establishing drone zones in local areas, ensuring safe and efficient operations.

Project BLUEPRINT, a two-year initiative, has been pivotal in advancing BVLOS drone operations in the UK. The project team successfully developed and integrated minimum viable products (MVPs), laying the groundwork for BVLOS solutions. A comprehensive sensor network was deployed, enhancing situational awareness and safety. Initial testing validated the system’s functionality and performance, securing approval from the relevant authorities and demonstrating compliance with aviation standards.

“Project BLUEPRINT was developed to show how ground-based surveillance networks and an open-architecture approach to UTM can enable BVLOS operations at scale,” said James Dunthorne, Strategic Lead for Project BLUEPRINT. “Our team has developed the necessary systems, integrated them, tested them, safety assessed them, and operated them in a live environment, allowing us to pull off a demonstration at this event that will hopefully give industry, government and regulators a clear vision for how the future of drone integration will come together. We’d like to thank everyone who has put in an extraordinary amount of effort to make this event so successful,”

The presentation on July 25 included live flight demonstrations in four parts covering flight plan and amendments with ‘intruder entering a transponder mandatory zone (TMZ) without permission’. Scenarios included a range of aircraft including VTOL BVLOS UAS (real take off from Cranfield Airport), Fixed Wing BVLOS UAS (simulated) and VTOL VLOS UAS (simulated)

Previous BVLOS projects have primarily operated in temporary danger areas (TDA’s) which are temporary and isolated from other airspace users, limiting scalability. These operations have focused on technology demonstrations and trials without establishing a sustainable business model.

With the blueprint for BVLOS in large part developed, the project team is now focused on the next phase: Detect and Avoid (DAA) testing.

The DAA testing phase is critical for BVLOS operations, encompassing validation of sensor coverage using ADS-B equipped unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), simulation scenarios for pilot decision-making, rigorous command performance validation, feedback loop simulations, and comprehensive system integrity testing. This phase aims to ensure the overall system’s reliability and calculate risk ratios accurately.

Next steps include working with Cranfield Airport and CAA to obtain TRA approval (by September 2024) and completion of assurance work in line with CAA’s DAA policy concept. Engaging with the general aviation industry, ARPAS-UK and CAA, the project aligns BVLOS operations with existing aviation practices. Inevitably, policymakers and regulators need to key into trials such as BLUEPRINT, and this will include alignment with the CAA’s Airspace policy concept for BVLOS flying, (dubbed as a roadmap for the development and modernisation of UK airspace until 2040).

Graham Brown, Chair of ARPAS-UK summarised: “The path to fully integrated airspace is complex with many moving parts. This project is excellent progress towards that goal.”

Project milestones and partners

The key milestones to the project are:

  •       MVPs Built and Integrated: The project team successfully developed and seamlessly integrated minimum viable products (MVPs), forming the bedrock of the BVLOS solution.
  •      Sensor Network Installation and Modelling: A comprehensive sensor network was meticulously deployed and modelled, enhancing situational awareness and safety.
  •      Initial Testing Completed: Rigorous testing validated system functionality and performance.
  •      OSC (Operating Safety Case) Approval: The project secured approval from the relevant authorities, ensuring compliance with regulations.
  •     TRA (Temporary Reserved Airspace) Application in Process: The team is part way through the process with the CAA to enable ADS-B mandated airspace to conduct routine operations.

Project BLUEPRINT relies on the collective efforts of the following organisations:

Many of the above organisations are ARPAS-UK Members.

Philip Hicks, 30 June 2024

From Project BLUEPRINT trials lay groundwork for open-architecture UK UTM system – Unmanned airspace