CAA

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CHIRP Drone/UAS #12: Geofence breach. Ageing batteries. NOTAMs

Access the CHIRP December 2024 edition 12, covering those 3 reports, HERE.

  • Report No1 – DUAS xx21 – Loss of control following geofence breach
  • Report No2 – DUAS xx22 – Ageing batteries and what to look out for
  • Report No3 – DUAS 0032 – NOTAMs and whether they get read

Foreword by Rupert Dent, Drone/UAS Programme Manager

Welcome to CHIRP Drone FEEDBACK Edition 12.0


I hope you have had a good summer’s drone flying, whether for pleasure or professionally. Statistics
from the Regulator indicate that the number of flyers continues to increase, albeit perhaps at a
lower rate than before. However, there are a growing number of drones in the air, and economically sustainable use-cases continue to be developed in the professional market. Diverse use cases involve different aircraft variants that perform very different functions. All of them bring along different human/computer system interface risks to the party. Each of them have unique Human Factor related challenges. A couple of good examples are described in this edition!


Since CHIRP Edition 11, there have as ever been some excellent new regulatory and technical innovations
in the world of drones. These include announcements about the Atypical Air Environment; plans for
implementation of SORA 2.5 in 2025; as well as a new subscriber-based digital fight approval service, which aims to reduce administration time for managing requests to landowners for take-of and landing requests. Airports adopting this include Aberdeen, Southampton, Cambridge and a combined Oxford Airport and Blenheim Palace. Encouraging though this may be, we continue to collect evidence of good old traditional Human Factors having as much influence on day-today flying and learning, as ever!


Let’s look at several recent examples and see what conclusions we can draw.


PS it can’t go without a mention that winter is of course approaching once more! Watch out for the HF consequences of lower temperatures, fog, snow and frozen fingers!


Rupert Dent
CHIRP Drone / UAS Programme Manager

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Protected: Feedback loop to the CAA. REG SIG Position Paper #2

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CAA publish their artificial intelligence strategy

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is proactively addressing artificial intelligence (AI) in aviation. Their strategy focuses on safe regulation and responsible use of AI to enhance aerospace efficiency, sustainability, and scalability while ensuring safety, security, consumer protection, and environmental sustainability.

Key points include:

  • Vision: Enhance aerospace efficiency and sustainability through AI, ensuring safety and security.
  • Strategic Response: Regulate AI in aviation and use it responsibly within the CAA.
  • AI Framework: Build trust in AI with common language, ethical principles, and technological understanding.
  • Regulating AI: Develop a robust regulatory framework for safe AI innovation in aviation.
  • Using AI in the CAA: Adopt AI responsibly within the CAA’s operations.

The CAA collaborates with international partners and industry stakeholders to align with global best practices and meet UK aviation needs. They welcome public engagement and feedback on their AI strategy.

Read more

Link to other regulatory matters.

28 November 2024

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CAA 2025/26 Scheme of charges: major increases on UAS. More complex, more costly… Clarification and staunch response by Jan 6 2025

The CAA launched their consultation on their proposals for revisions to the existing UK Civil Aviation Authority CAA 2025/26 Scheme of charges, due to take effect from 1 April 2025.   

Our preliminary analysis indicates major/ massive increases on all charges related to UAS.

·      Fee Increases for PDRA-01: We have already expressed concern informally to the CAA over the proposed increase from £234 to £500 and its potential impact on operators, particularly given the significant role PDRA-01 plays in enabling safe and efficient operations for 95% of specific category operators.

·     All other fees in the Scheme of Charge: we will seek clarification on the rationale for all charges increases and exact scope of application, in order to push back and formally respond to the consultation by Jan 6.

·      Transition from PDRA01 to SORA? The recent CAA PDRA survey could suggest an intent to phase out PDRAs entirely, whereas the Charging Consultation mentions exploring additional PDRAs. We have already raised that point informally, and we will seek further clarification on the long-term plans for PDRAs in our Regulations Position Paper #2, due end November, that we will share with our Members and more importantly with the CAA and DfT.

·      The Need for Additional PDRAs and SORAs: ARPAS-UK has reinforced the need for more predefined risk assessments (PDRAs) or simplified, generic SORAs to reflect common operational scenarios, such as reduced separation distances, BVLOS with visual observers, increased height limits. If there is no class-marking of drones in the UK in the Open category, why not develop asap new PDRAs that would function like A1 and/or A2  for reduced distances from uninvolved people, including in urban environments?

The transition to the SORA safety methodology will create lots of changes. The objective must be efficiency and proportionality, not complexity to a point that both the drone operators’ teams and the regulator’s teams need much more time to formulate and assess applications, translating into hikes in charging fees.

We recognise the importance of a feedback loop with the CAA during this period of change and are committed to advocating for solutions that balance safety with practicality – and proportionality.

Please don’t hesitate to share any thoughts or concerns with us as we continue to represent the interests of the membership.

The Scheme of Charges consultation is accessible through the link below:

Scheme of Charges consultation

18 November 2024

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Protected: ARPAS-UK Response to RAE(F) and SAIL Marking CAA Consultation MEMBERS ONLY

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Protected: Drone Operator Regulation Feedback Loop (Members Only)

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CAA Summary of Airspace Modernisation 2023 Progress Report Now Online

The new summary document is now available on the CAA’s website to accompany the Airspace Modernisation – 2023 Progress Report. Providing an overview of the progress made toward each aspect of AMS delivery over the year, it highlights key aspects of the strategy, including topics such as electronic conspicuity for uncrewed aircraft.

If you would like to read the full Report for 2023, this can also be found on the CAA website.

Read the summary for 2023’s progress and key findings….

Read the Summary Here

1st November 2024

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Protected: Atypical Air Environment Policy: Explanation and Debrief webinar 30 Oct 4-5pm. MEMBERS ONLY

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Atypical Air Environment Policy Announcement: CAP 3040

The CAA has today, 15 October 2024, announced CAP3040: Unmanned Aircraft Operations in an Atypical Air Environment: Policy Concept. It will enable drones to fly beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of remote pilots using ‘atypical air environments’.

This new policy marks a significant milestone for the future of drone operations for use in surveying national infrastructure and site security.

What is an atypical air environment? It’s an area of airspace where operators can expect there to be a reduced number of traditionally piloted aircraft, due to the proximity of ground infrastructure.

MEMBERS ONLY: you will separately have access to the Atypical Air Environment slide deck (via the NATMAC 96 post) and internal virtual debrief meeting.

ARPAS-UK welcomes and supports the introduction of the Atypical Air Environment policy, as an incremental step to facilitate BVLOS operations in lower risk environments, where no other aircraft is expected to be, for example just above assets that are inspected. These will already unlock a lot of economic value, and help the industry accumulate experience and flying hours in BVLOS.

  • New Drone Rules: The UK Civil Aviation Authority has introduced new rules allowing drones to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) for infrastructure inspections.
  • Enhanced Capabilities: These rules will enable efficient inspections of power lines, wind turbines, and site security, reducing costs and improving maintenance.
  • Innovative Policy: The policy supports the integration of drones into regular airspace, ensuring safety and operational efficiency.
  • Industry Collaboration: Companies like sees.ai and National Grid are collaborating to leverage these new rules for better infrastructure management and energy transition.

Read CAP 3040

15 October 2024

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CAA BVLOS Roadmap Launched at DroneX 2024

Scalable Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations

Over the coming months and years, the CAA is working to address the remaining regulatory challenges that will enable authorised operators to operate Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) in a scaled, sustainable way.

Note from ARPAS-UK:
The next immediate step will be the publication of the atypical air environment policy within the next few days or weeks.


Click on the link below to go to the CAA article, where you can also find the CA3038 document to download…

Take a look at the Flying Drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight video by the CAA

Read more at the CAA

27 September 2024