FLY SMART, FLY SAFE
The Law Commission’s second consultation paper on aviation autonomy has been published today (April 16), focussing on air traffic management and air navigation services (“ATM/ANS”) for uncrewed aircraft.
In their first consultation paper on aviation autonomy published last year, the Law Commission looked at the law relating to drones and vertical take-off and landing aircraft (“VTOLs”). To operate safely in integrated airspace, those uncrewed aircraft will require some form of ATM/ANS, which they refer to as uncrewed aircraft systems traffic management (“UTM”). In their second consultation paper, they make provisional proposals about how UTM should be regulated, and the legal mechanisms for establishing liability when things go wrong. They are seeking views from anyone with an interest in or awareness of this area of law.
The consultation is open until 18 July 2025.
Read more about the first consultation
16 April 2025
As part of the Specific Operation Risk Assessment (SORA) framework for Remote Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) operations in the specific category, the Civil Aviation Authority have considered the Cyber Safety Extension which was published as part of JARUS SORA 2.5 and produced this guidance for operators.
Read more:
16 April 2025
We’re delighted that we’ll be seeing you all at this year’s event at Cranfield University, taking place on the 29th April, starting at 1100 and closing of doors at 1800.
Following the AGM in the morning, then lunch and networking, the Annual Conference will include talks and discussions across key industry themes. We’ll hear from end-users and sector leaders on market adoption, with speakers including Sellafield Ltd and Esri UK, followed by policy and regulation from the DfT and CAA, and sessions on innovation and airspace.
MARKET ADOPTION & END-USERS’ FEEDBACK
INNOVATION & AIRSPACE
GOVERNMENT POLICY & REGULATION
Interactive SLIDO will be run during the day to gather your views and questions
AGENDA
1100: Pre AGM & Networking
1130: AGM – Members Only
1200: Lunch
1300-1730: Annual Conference – Breaks & Networking
1800: Close of Event
Read the full Agenda here
LOCATION
Stafford Cripps 2 – 1st Floor (Grid 3D)
Central Ave – Cranfield
Wharley End – Bedford MK43 0AL
Interactive Map
What3Words: ///dearest.skins.prepped
Train Stations: Milton Keynes Central and Bedford
PARKING & PERMITS
If you are driving to the event, specific parking has been allocated to attendees:
AIRC car park (grid 5D of campus map)
Please download, print the Parking Permit in advance, enter your vehicle registration and display the permit inside your windscreen.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact [email protected]
10 April 2025
Drones in Action End User Stories:
Traditional inspections of live flare stacks offshore require shutting down operations which can cost up to £4 million per day and are hazardous due to extreme heights and heat.
Drones are now being employed by companies for offshore inspections, enabling pilots to operate safely from shore while drones perform complex data collection tasks over the sea.
Drones in Energy, Utility & Infrastructure Inspection
15 April 2025
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has released its inaugural Test and Evaluation (T&E) Annual Report for 2024–2025, marking a significant step in advancing aviation innovation within the UK. The report highlights the T&E Team’s efforts in facilitating safe, efficient, and data-driven test flights, aligning with national initiatives like the Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS), UKRI Future Flight Challenge, and the Department for Transport’s Future Flight Industry programme.
Established a year ago, the T&E Team aims to support the CAA’s mission by enabling test flights in integrated airspace. Their work centers on three strategic priorities:
Over the past year, the T&E Team has made significant strides in facilitating test and evaluation activities, gathering critical data, and streamlining regulatory processes to enhance efficiency. Their collaborative approach with industry stakeholders has been fundamental in enabling data-driven decision-making within the CAA. Data collected from operations is being used to refine policy concepts and will facilitate progress in key areas such as DAA and UAS Traffic Management (UTM), which are critical to scaled integrated UAS operations in the future.
The T&E Team plans to continue refining its approach, strengthening collaboration with industry, and leveraging insights from testing activities to shape future policy and regulatory frameworks. By enhancing the UK’s ability to support aviation innovation while maintaining the highest safety standards, the T&E function is poised to play a crucial role in the evolution of the UK’s airspace and aviation capabilities.
Read more:
15 April 2025
Disclaimer: All jobs posted here are from LinkedIn and other job sites including member and non-member organizations. Drone related jobs.
Skybound Rescuer are looking to recruit a Co-ordinator (BVLOS Remote Pilot).
Tekever is recruiting a UAV Avionics Technician.
Consortiq is recruiting a UAV Training Manager.
Dales Survey Ltd is recruiting 3 roles:
UK AirComms is recruiting a Telecom Drone Pilot.
Air Control Entech is recruiting a UAV & Robotics Applications Pilot.
Oakmont Consulting is recruiting a UAS / Safety Pilot.
BAE Systems Submarines are looking to recruit Drone Operators.
Marble are looking to recruit multiple roles:
UAV Engineer – Generalist / UAV Engineer – Systems / Chief Technical Officer / Special Projects Engineer – Robotics & Embedded Systems / Full Stack Software Engineer / Product Engineer – Software Founder’s Associate
SORA Aviation is looking to recruit a Senior Stress Engineer.
View other roles
14 April 2025
The CAA’s Strategy for Regulating AI in Aerospace aims to enable the sector to benefit from this transformative technology.
The CAA is inviting stakeholders to provide their insights on the AI use cases being explored across the aerospace sector, to help shape regulatory requirements for the safe deployment of AI and advanced automation in aerospace.
Through this survey, the CAA seeks to understand:
In addition to the above, the CAA has also published a guide which explains how they continue to protect consumers as aviation adopts AI.
Read more:
11 April 2025
Drones in Action End User Stories:
The key challenge at Dovecote Park and Severn Trent Water was the inefficiency and safety risks associated with manual security patrols and inspections, particularly in high-risk areas. Additionally, there was a pressing need to enhance security coverage, reduce operational time, and lower the carbon footprint in site management activities.
By integrating automated drone surveillance, security patrols became three times faster across a 13-acre site. Drones provided real-time monitoring with thermal cameras, reducing reliance on manual inspections, improving safety, and lowering operational costs and carbon footprint.
Severn Trent Water – An ARPAS-UK member
Drones in Energy, Utility & Infrastructure Inspection
Drones in Construction, Mapping & Surveying
11 April 2025
The End User Advancement and Sharing Exchange (EASE) has released a pivotal paper titled “End User Appraisal,” which offers a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future prospects of drone technology integration across various sectors in the UK. This document synthesizes insights from leading drone end users, highlighting critical challenges, cross-sector opportunities, and the maturity levels of drone adoption.
Critical Challenges in Drone Integration
The paper identifies several significant obstacles impeding the widespread adoption and impact of drone technology:
Cross-Sector Opportunities for Drone Applications
The document highlights promising avenues where drone technology can be effectively utilized across different sectors:
Maturity Levels of Drone Adoption
EASE conducted a benchmarking exercise to assess the maturity of drone integration among end users, categorizing them into four stages:
The assessment revealed that the majority of organizations are in the early stages of drone adoption, with five users at the ‘Initial’ stage and five at the ‘Developing’ stage, indicating substantial room for growth and development.
Strategic Actions for Enhanced Drone Impact
To address these challenges and capitalize on opportunities, the paper outlines strategic actions:
Conclusion
The EASE “End User Appraisal” paper underscores a critical juncture for the UK drone ecosystem. By addressing regulatory and financial challenges and promoting collaborative efforts, there is a significant opportunity to harness drone technology’s full potential, driving innovation and efficiency across multiple sectors.
Read other:
9 April 2025