Design, Build and Operations

Always Expect the Unexpected

Welcome to Drone FEEDBACK Edition 11. The weather has not been very helpful to Drone flying
since we published Edition 10 in April. We have now passed midsummer day and are hoping for rather more stable conditions for late summer and early autumn. The wind has been somewhat troublesome during this period and showers have resulted in stop-start scenarios with the potential consequences manifesting themselves at the image processing stage, long after the Operator has left the site. All of this results in the potential for Human Factor risks coming from a different direction, when compared to the winter period. If for instance you have to stop for an hour to let rain clouds move on, should you continue your mapping flight on the same set of batteries or change to a full set earlier than your original site planning had anticipated? If so, what are the consequences for capturing the required data in the remainder of the shift?

So, while operational Human Factors can be driven by seasonal aspects, it can also be driven by equipment design aspects. In this edition we note a few instances where there have been Human Factor occurrences that have, at their origin, the design or the manufacturing of the Uncrewed Aircraft System itself, with consequences on piloting the aircraft.

The last point I want to make is that because the use of Drones has increased across a variety of industry sectors, we are always looking for additional members for our Board who have expertise in Operating Drones in the solar, wind turbine (both onshore and offshore), construction, electricity distribution, emergency services and linear-asset inspection sectors. If you are operating in these sectors and would like to contribute to broadening the Human Factors and Just Culture knowledge of Drone users generally, do get in touch. We would welcome your knowledge as we review reports submitted to CHIRP. Email mail@chirp.co.uk for the attention of Rupert Dent, Drone/UAS Programme Manager.

Stay safe and have an enjoyable summer’s flying!

Rupert Dent, Drone/UAS Programme Manager

Contents:

• * Report to CHIRP!
• * Comments on previous editions
• * Get 5% discount at Pooleys Flight
• * Equipment through CHIRP
• * I learned About Human Factors From That (ILAHFFT)
• * DUAS31 – Battery fell out in flight
• * DUASxx18 – Drone took off with incorrectly fitted rotor arms
• * DUASxx19 – The Swiss cheese strikes again
• * DUASxx20 – Always expect the unexpected