In previous consultations, we had advocated (among others) for a clearly sign-posted website to get information, and the use of modern ways to communicate. Here are a couple of new useful communications pages you should keep an eye on:
22 February 2024
With International Women’s Day – 8 March 2024 – on the horizon, we thought this a good opportunity to remind our members and the wider drone industry of who and what the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter is.
The Charter was founded in 2018 at the Farnborough International Airshow with over 200 companies committing to supporting women in a more balanced and fair industry for women. The aviation and aerospace sectors are world-leading, and to sustain this industry we need to ensure that we have access to a diverse range of innovators and leaders of the future. With currently fewer than 5% of commercial pilots, and fewer again in the drone industry, being women, there is a recognised shortage of women in this sector.
The Charter looks to support the progression of women into senior roles in the aviation and aerospace sectors, and aspires to see gender balance at all levels across aviation and aerospace. It recognises that a balanced workforce is good for business – it is good for customers and consumers, for profitability and workplace culture, and is increasingly attractive for investors. In becoming a signatory, organisations are pledging their actions to help make this a reality.
Signatories and supporting organisations from within the drone industry include (abridged): ARPAS-UK, The Civil Aviation Authority, The Department for Transport, Cranfield University, ADS, Draken, NATS, The Royal Aeronautical Society and many more.
Highlights of the organisation are the practical steps that are advocated via the Resource Hub, with a step by step guide on the journey to gender balance. Many of these lessons can be applied to other personnel areas too and are highly recommended reading for diversity and inclusivity of all people in the workforce.
ARPAS-UK signed the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter as a Supporting Signatory in the autumn of 2019 and we recommend other companies in the drone industry to join too. With practical resources and networking events, why not benefit from the knowledge and experience of others in the aviation and aerospace industry?
Other resources for supporting women in your company:
The aviation industry continues to embrace the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It already enhances safety and efficiency through predictive maintenance, aiding air traffic management, and refining pilot training with advanced insights and simulations. Understanding what AI will mean for the CAA and how it will affect the way we work and how we regulate is a crucial part of this strategy work.
The CAA have created a survey that focuses on how they regulate AI. Your support in helping create a strategy for the safe and secure use of AI in aviation would be greatly appreciated.
The survey will close Friday 29 March 2024. More information is available on the CAA website
The new 4th edition of the Metric Survey Specifications for Cultural Heritage has just been published online by the Geospatial Survey team of ARPAS-UK Member, Historic England. The third edition was published in 2015, and this new edition contains the most notable advance being the ubiquitous use of multi-image, structure from motion photogrammetric software and drones to capture aerial photography.
This latest edition is now entitled “Geospatial Survey Specifications for Cultural Heritage” and incorporates several advances in geospatial surveying technology since the previous version was published in 2015. The most notable is the now widespread use of multi-image, structure from motion photogrammetric software and drones for capturing low-level aerial photography of heritage buildings, sites, and landscapes.
It should be very useful to those specifying survey work throughout the historic environment sector and academics researching building conservation.
This new specification, together with an accompanying project brief template, is free to download.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority, in partnership with Baringa and QinetiQ, is hosting virtual workshops in February to discuss Electronic Conspicuity (EC) device use. The sessions will look at how EC is used to detect airborne threats and how decisions are made to avoid airborne collisions.
They are looking for volunteers who are operationally qualified users from the following categories:
Participants cannot not have any connection to an EC manufacturer.
If you are interested in attending a workshop please email your name, contact details and which of the categories you fall under to: ec@caa.co.uk
The CAA aims to launch the new Digital PDRA01 Application Tool at the beginning of March. The aim is to simplify the PDRA01 application and renewal process, and to make it online.The key expected benefit is that applying for an OA will be made easy and quick. The review and approval process will also be automated and quicker.
The philosophy is that the Operator will make a number of declarations of Compliance to get the OA, which will formalise his/her commitment to follow the regulatory requirements and his/her legal responsibility. That responsibility has always existed, but the oversight regime of it is evolving.
Each and every application will no longer be individually renewed, at least not in detail, because the operator will have ticked the many required boxes and committed to compliance. The CAA oversight teams will focus more on conducting adhoc audits – a little but like tax returns and tax oversight regime.
A template PDRA01 Operations Manual will be provided, which should clarify what’s required to be compliant in practice as well.
Will it change the heart of PDRA01, meaning its obligations and privileges? Or the interpretation of them? Like the issue of distance from uninvolved persons? It is unclear at this stage, and we’ll continue engagement on that point.
Below are key extracts of CAA communication to drone operators due to renew soon, for transparency.
“This marks the first milestone in the Digitisting Specific Category Operations (DiSCO) project that aims to transform the Operational Authorisation process for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in the Specific Category.
Key features of the new PDRA01 Application Tool:
The new PDRA01 Application Tool aims to make it simpler and quicker for you to apply for a PDRA01 based Operational Authorisation. Key features include:
What the launch means for operators:
When we launch the new PDRA01 Application Tool, we will only accept PDRA01 applications made via the new process. The existing PDRA01 application form will no longer be in use.
If you have started an application on the current PDRA01 application form (which you can do from 3 months before your expiry date), you will be able to continue and submit this application for 30 days after the system goes live. After this point, you will need to start a new application on the new PDRA01 Application Tool.
You will be able to renew your authorisation using the new tool from 28 days before it expires. Please note that you will need to have a valid Operator ID before you can start the application process.
Charges
The fee you pay for Operational Authorisations pays for both the initial, and ongoing regulation of the RPAS industry, including assessing applications, ongoing oversight and introducing new and improved technology such as the new PDRA01 Application Tool and the associated upkeep of the new technology system (and broader DiSCO programme).
The fee for applications made on the new PDRA01 Application Tool will be £290 for applications made on or before 31st March 2024, and £314 for applications made on or after 1st April 2024 (as per the 2024/25 Scheme of Charges). There will only be one flat fee going forwards to streamline and simplify the process.
Please visit the CAA website for further information on charges.
How we’ll let you know when the tool is live
We’re aiming to launch the tool at the beginning of March. We’ll email you again when the tool is live and ready to use. You will also be some of the first users of the new process, so there will be increased support available for you, should you have any issues. “
A-L Scaillierez
During the CAA Finance Service Forum on 8 December 2023 and covering among other matters the “FY2024/25 Charging Consultation Proposals”, the CAA introduced a proposal for “a further new activity price increase of 3.0% across our safety schemes, providing a contribution to the CAA’s role in enabling innovation in the sector, particularly Future Flight which will deliver benefits to existing users through enabling the safe integration of new users, as well as to those new users who will in time be part of the aviation system and at that point make a financial contribution to regulatory costs.”
That proposal would help fund 10% of the costs supported by the CAA, with the government funding the other 90%.
ARPAS-UK supports the proposal, and we believe that innovation will benefit all airspace users.
10 January 2024
The WMO Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Demonstration Campaign (UAS-DC) aims at demonstrating the potential capability of UAS to play a role as an operational component of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) under the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON).
The scope of the campaign is elaborated below and is based on key requirements and expectations that are derived from the theme and the aims.
| Element of Scope | Proposed | ||
| Observations Period | 6 months, from 1 March to 30 September 2024 | ||
| 3 x Special Observing Periods (SOP) | Periods where participants are requested to undertake observations with, where possible:higher temporal resolution – more frequent flights with observations made at a higher frequencyWith wider coverage – observations from more sitesThe SOPs are expected to occur as follows:April 2024, all month, with high priority on the week commencing on April 8 (overlapping with the total solar eclipse of April 8)5 – 12 August 2024, overlapping with the Paris Olympics9-15 September 2024, overlapping with the ISARRA flight week | ||
| Participants | Participant OperatorsWMO Member UAS operatorResearch UAS operatorPrivate UAS operator | Participant Data UsersMember Data UserNumerical Weather Prediction CentresOther applicationsResearch Data User | Other StakeholdersWMO, INFCOMICAONational Civil Aviation Authorities |
| Geographical scope | Global – participants from all regions, countries and locations where UAS are and can be flown in compliance with national airspace regulations. | ||
| UAS types | Autonomous copter or fixed-wing small UAS Remote-piloted copter or fixed-wind small UAS Automated high altitude fixed-wing UAS Remote-piloted high altitude fixed-wing UAS | ||
| Observations Locations & Modes | Observations from all locations and modes, including but not limited to:Oceanic Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) – Vertical profiles of the atmospheric boundary layer with UAS from stationary or moving platform location.Remote land, mountain, coastal and cryosphere observations and vertical profiles with UAS.Upper troposphere and lower stratosphere observations of UAS.Testbed observations and vertical profiling UAS.Symbiotic UAS observations collected by private UAS performing some other primary mission (e.g., package delivery). | ||
| Reported Variables | Required physical variablesAir temperatureAir pressureRelative humidity | Additional physical variableswind speedwind direction snow coversnow depthsoil moisturealbedoroughness lengthaerosols or particulatesvolcanic ashturbulence | |
| Data Provision | Data provided by participant operators will be made with continuous, routine provision of data for at least 1 month during the demonstration observing period, in the Standard Data Representation Format to the central data repository and in Near-real Time, where:Continuous, Routine Data Provision – The making and provision of observations of the Required Physical Variables and associated Supporting Observational Metadata in accordance with the Modes of Operation at a frequency of at least once per day, on at least 4 days per week.Near-real Time – preferably within 30 minutes of the observation time if possible, and no later than within 3 hours as a maximum.Standard Data Representation Format (SDRF) – Data shall be submitted in a pre-defined NetCDF or WMO BUFR format tailored for UAS data representation. | ||
So as to ensure that participants in the UAS Demonstration Campaign can help to best meet the scope and the aims of the campaign, it is necessary to impose some specific requirements of participants in terms of several aspects related to the role they will play as participants.
Participants fall into 2 main categories:
For more information, follow the link:
Strong and diverse keynotes today at Westminster eForum on drones to the question: “What priorities and next steps for the UK drone industry?” Our key messages were focusing on “Actions in 2024 to grow the commercially possible at scale & at a reasonable cost of compliance in the Here and Now”. Similar to the crawl, walk, run approach mentioned by John McKenna at Sees.ai in his keynote. ARPAS-UK CEO Anne-Lise Scaillierez delivered our organisation’s keynote, reflected on why industries use drones (professional tool to collect data in a safer smarter cheaper way, CO2 reduction journey, and beyond data capture Advanced Air Mobility) and highlighted as 2024 Top 5 priorities:
1. to collectively deliver the upcoming DfT-led Future Flight Action Plan, and where possible accelerate milestones, such as routine BVLOS operations
2. Secure the CAA’s funding and access to skilled resources. CAA teams are very professional and working very hard in a challenging environment. Yet, still months to get approvals for more complex operations. Innovation much broader than drones: Airspace Modernisation Strategy, alternative propulsion, Net Zero…
3. Focus on low-hanging fruits to expand the scope of the “commercially possible at scale”:
+/ Atypical airspace as a start to long distance BVLOS operations
+/ Standards: standardised, digitised, risk assessments processes for frequent, lower safety risk operations. Product technical standards. BSI standards.
4.Successfully transition to international “SORA”-based regulatory framework: opportunity for regulatory clarity, simplicity, risk proportionality, digitisation
5.Pursue collaboration, education to accelerate the adoption by end-user industries
Jenny Ward at DfT delivered a well-rounded brief that demonstrates the support of DfT to our industry.
Many speakers reflected on a broader perspective as well, beyond 2024 actions, looking at 2030 and embracing Advanced Air Mobility. We agree with them… but like the idea of collectively getting a few simpler things done this year rather than next year!
We’re proud to count as ARPAS-UK members a number of speakers: Paul Luen at COPTRZ, Elliot Parnham at Skyfarer, Dave Pankhurst at BT , Richard Parker at Altitude Angel, and John McKenna at Sees.ai.
Thanks to #wefevents for having us speak and to fellow presenters.
The full transcript and video recording will be made available by the organisers. Please reach out if you would like to discuss the specific input of other speakers. membership@arpas.uk.
by: Anne-Lise Scaillierez
