CAA Mark Wharry keynote @DroneX: Takeaways
Mark Wharry, the GA & RPAS Safety and Oversight Manager  with the  Civil Aviation Authority, shared his perspective on the UK RPAS regulatory landscape.
– 7000 operators in the specific category, with an Operational Authorisation OA
– 600 000 registered operators in the Open and Specific categories
– The GA and RPAS Safety & Oversight team grew significantly. The RPAS sector team now includes 11 inspectors and 5 surveyors. The team works in close relationship with the Innovation Team and the Rapid Capability Office.

– The UK SORA Specific Operations’ Risk Assessment (SORA), expected for March 2023, is the key policy development target.
– Also: a simplified version of the Open category vs Europe, for example by limiting the number of Classes of drones – currently 7, from C0 to C6 in the EASA framework –
– Also: the scalability of the specific category requirements depending on operations’ complexity, including pilot qualifications and the ability for RAE to deliver more complex qualifications.

The UK SORA will from part of the  Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM) to UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947.  Moving forward, the AMC & GM document will replace a significant proportion of what is currently contained within the CAP 722 series. It is therefore an important piece of regulation for all drone operators, especially in the specific category.

ALS

DroneX invite: 
UK RPAS – The Regulator’s Perspective

As the UK RPAS industry develops and grows, the Civil Aviation Authority has the dual remit of ensuring it does so safely, while proactively and directly enabling the innovation the sector is known for. With technological change and development happening at a rapid pace, what is the safety regulator’s view on how to balance these requirements, integrate with traditional aviation, and truly open up the UK’s skies?

Bio:
Mark Wharry was an RAF fast jet pilot and instructor for almost 20 years, flying combat missions in the Tornado GR4. Later, he flew the MQ-9 Reaper RPAS, training alongside the US Air Force before completing over 1000 operational hours in support of Operations HERRICK and SHADER. As an experienced instructor, he served as Officer Commanding Reaper Standards and Evaluation, with responsibility for ensuring the combat readiness of the RAF’s MQ-9 Force. He was the first pilot to be rated as an ‘A’ grade instructor on any RPAS, and the first accredited Central Flying School Examiner on an uncrewed platform. He is the CAA’s most experienced RPAS pilot and is now the Safety and Oversight Manager for General Aviation and RPAS, leading teams of inspectors and surveyors who handle all external oversight for both communities. He is an MBA student and loves flying in all its forms.

For more information, please connect to DroneX website: https://www.dronexpo.co.uk/speakers/mark-wharry/

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