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!

Consultation opens: 25 July 2024

Consultation closes: 19 September 2024