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
Disclaimer: All jobs posted here are from LinkedIn and other job sites including member and non-member organizations.
Babock are looking to recruit an RPAS Maintainer and an RPAS Operator.
The CAA is looking to recruit a Policy Specialist Airspace & ATM/UTM
Callen-Lenz are looking to recruit a Flight Operations Manager.
Dronamics are looking to recruit 3 x UK based roles: Legal Counsel, Avionics Lead & Propulsion Engineer.
Marble are looking to recruit a UAV Systems Engineer.
Northern Powergrid is looking for a UAS Primary Pilot
Richard Allitt Associates is looking to recruit a Drone Pilot.
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority would like to remind every remote pilot that from 1 January 2024 if they operate under a PDRA01 (Pre-Defined Risk Assessment) they must hold a General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC), in order to comply with AMC1 to Article 8 of UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947.
Any remote pilot who does not hold a GVC and who wishes to continue flying under a PDRA01 based operational authorisation, must obtain a GVC before 1 January 2024, by contacting a UK CAA approved Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE).
The list of RAEs can be found on the Flying in the Specific category page of the CAA’s website (or via ARPAS-UK Training Provider Members – ARPAS UK)
RPAS UNIT
Civil Aviation Authority
Safety and Airspace Regulation Group
21 June 2023
True Beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) will take off when technologies that make this possible come at an acceptable size, weight, power and cost (SWAP-C). The toughest technological challenge on the way to UAV autonomy is last resort tactical airspace deconfliction by means of onboard sensing, also known as Detect and Avoid (DAA). Join us to discuss safety goal posts, what can be achieved with different sensors and data processing techniques, and whether we can meet the industry needs for SWAP-C and chart a course towards certification.
Speaker Info:
Vidhya Sridhar, Head of Autonomous Technology, TTP
Vidhya leads the autonomous technologies market team at TTP working on exciting technology enablers for safe and secure autonomy on the ground, in the air and in space. She has been deeply involved in the UAV and space sustainability sectors, and has engaged with various stakeholders to assess communication and safety subsystem offerings. Vidhya is an engineer with a background in digital signal processing and communications.
Boeing-backed autonomous flight technology developer, sees.ai, becomes the first company in the UK to secure routine permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to fly drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) in non-segregated airspace, on the high voltage electricity transmission network.
This permission builds on the BVLOS permission that sees.ai received in April 2021 which allowed the company to remotely operate drones in non-segregated airspace over industrial sites. This new permission now allows routine BVLOS flights on two specific runs of National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) live overhead power lines – an interim step that will allow sees.ai to demonstrate the safety of extending this permission to NGET’s critical national infrastructure.
This permission means sees.ai is now one of only a handful of companies worldwide with routine permission to inspect the grid from BVLOS; and perhaps the only company worldwide capable of enabling close inspection, the most valuable inspection regime. sees.ai’s core tech enables drones to be flown meters from steelwork and components from BVLOS to capture a structured, internally georeferenced data set of 2D images and 3D models optimised for automated analysis using AI.
This permission achieves an important milestone in the development of an end-to-end automated inspection analysis and reporting solution for electricity grids – a project that sees.ai and NGET’s data analysis supplier, Keen AI, have been working on with NGET since mid 2021. The aim of this project is to enable NGETs in-house team to carry out close aerial inspection of overhead lines from BVLOS using sees.ai’s core tech; and then to use Keen AI’s software for condition assessment, defect resolution and reporting. This project will enable NGET (and other grid operators in time) to more efficiently and effectively determine asset conditions and develop optimal maintenance plans.
In order to ensure the safe development and deployment of their core tech, sees.ai has been working closely with the CAA Regulatory Sandbox team since 2019. Recently the company has made progress towards licensing their core-tech via this project with National Grid and a second with Marshall Futureworx; and via two UK Government Future Flight Challenge projects, in which sees.ai led consortia that included partners National Grid, BT and Network Rail.
John McKenna, CEO of sees.ai said:
“Securing permission to carry out BVLOS drone inspections of the live electricity grid is a major step forward towards our goal of enabling safe operation of drone fleets at national scale. We’re immensely proud that National Grid and the CAA trust us to deploy safely on critical infrastructure and we believe that this permission will pave the way for future advancements in the use of drones for survey and inspection of critical national infrastructure, and beyond into aerial logistics and mobility.”
Sophie O’Sullivan, Head of Future Safety and Innovation at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:
‘Everyday flying of drones beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of their operator in the UK will be a significant step forwards in unlocking the full potential of drone technology. This progress in safely incorporating drones into the airspace so they can inspect infrastructure in this way is a key achievement and a major part of our work to support UK innovation.’
Mark Simmons, Condition Monitoring Manager at National Grid Electricity Transmission said:
‘This is a fantastic achievement for sees.ai and an important step in enabling National Grid to
fully exploit the potential of drone technology for network inspections. As we work towards our
net zero goals, embracing technologies like these will enable us to deliver an energy future that
is clean, fair, and affordable for all.’
6 June 2023
with Graham Brown, Chair, Anne-Lise Scaillierez, CEO, and Elena Major, Operations
And the presentation:
29 March 2023: 10.30am – 4pm
Location: TTP, Melbourn Science Park, Melbourn, SG8 6EE
Join the Radio Technology SIG at their next in-person event where they will explore the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles industry, to establish the current landscape, the technology needs to evolve and hear from successful examples of UAVs being deployed in real-life.
About:
From Tanzania to Scotland, demonstration missions have shown that UAVs can provide vital services such as delivering medical supplies to regions with limited road infrastructure and inspection of assets in locations hazardous to humans. Being able to do Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) safely and securely is key to make this commercially successful and enable large scale operations. Several pieces of the puzzle need to align to make this commercially successful – ranging from reliable command and control; means to integrate safely with airspace via various layers of deconfliction; optimising for size, weight, and cost to improve uptake; and close integration with enterprise or appropriate use-case workflows.
At this event, you will hear from various stakeholders on their perspective of where the industry is, how technology needs evolve and hear some successful examples of these being deployed in real-life.
From the CAA on 16 Feb 2022.
The Specific Operating Risk Assessment (SORA) is a way to classify the risk posed by a UAS operation and then identify mitigations and safety objectives to counter those risks. It allows the UAS operator to identify operational limitations and training objectives for the personnel involved in the flights, technical requirements for the aircraft and develop the appropriate operational procedures.
The CAA will be introducing SORA in the UK but for now UAS operators who wish to apply to fly in the Specific category should continue to use the methodology and templates laid out in CAP 722A publication until the CAA provides further updates on the development of the UK SORA.
The UK SORA is still in development; however, the CAA has provided some initial information.
UK SORA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) SORA
There may be some differences between the UK and EASA versions of SORA. These will be necessary to accommodate national requirements and will be laid out in the CAA’s consultation for the UK SORA.
UK SORA and international operations
Individual National Aviation Authorities (NAAs) will decide whether to recognise the UK SORA using their assessment of the SORA submitted by applicants. Some states may have different airspace requirements, technical requirements and national sensitivities that will need to be addressed between the applicant and the respective NAA on a case-by-case basis.
Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations in non-segregated airspace
The SORA is a tool that may enable BVLOS flights in non-segregated airspace. However, it is not intended as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for allowing full integration of all types of UAS into all airspace classes. The SORA indicates the type of performance goal(s) for airspace segregation/integration measures necessary to meet the target levels of safety for the given airspace volume.
Pre-defined risk assessments (PDRAs)
The current PDRA package being developed by the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) will be reviewed as part of the UK SORA project and if acceptable, the CAA will adopt them in the UK.
Recognised Assessment Entities (RAEs)
The impact of UK SORA on RAEs is being assessed as part of our implementation project.
There are current projects to look at the scope and tasks of RAEs. The CAA will inform all RAEs as soon as possible.
UK regulations
UK SORA will be used as an Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) to Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 2019/947 as retained (and amended in UK domestic law) under the European Union (Withdrawal Act 2018). SORA is not a regulation; it is a set of recommendations and guidelines for conducting a risk assessment and meeting required target levels of safety.
As SORA will be new AMC for Article 11 of UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947, regulatory change is not required to implement it.
Timelines
The CAA plans to have the UK SORA ready for consultation in Q1 2024. However, there are a number of dependencies that need to be addressed first. The CAA are planning to implement a UK SORA package in Q3/4 2024.
Implementation
The SORA implementation project is an extensive, comprehensive project which is considering all elements of how the UK will implement SORA. .
Training courses for UAS operators will be developed as part of the SORA project and we’ll provide more details on these when they’ve been confirmed.
Benefits of SORA and differences with the current risk assessment methodology
CAP 722A is primarily a qualitative methodology and SORA is a more quantitative methodology. SORA has been developed internationally with consensus from multiple NAAs and industry experts and it sets an acceptable target level of safety for proposed operations in the Specific category.
Valid Operational Authorisation (OA)
OAs which are valid when SORA is implemented will not be cancelled. They will remain valid for the period of validity stated on the authorisation.
The Operating Safety Case (OSC)
OSCs will need to be revised for SORA and there will be a transitional period to allow UAS operators to update them. Details of the transitional period will be communicated as part of the consultation process.
The current application process for flights in the Specific category may change, including application costs, and this will also be reviewed as part of the SORA implementation project. The CAA will run a further consultation on costs as part of their Scheme of Charges review.
Use of SORA elements
Applicants should not use elements of SORA when completing a Specific category application. Applications should be submitted using the methodology outlined in CAP 722A and mixing the methodologies is not recommended.
SORA is a complete risk assessment process based on detailed mathematical modelling. Applications involving a mixed methodology approach will increase the assessment time as the methodology will require evaluation to ensure it complies with Article 11 of UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947.
Use of SORA for planning an application
At this stage it is not possible to provide guidance on any specific details of the UK SORA. JARUS may still change elements of its SORA as reviews are ongoing and the details of the UK SORA is still being developed.
The CAA are focused on delivering UK SORA as soon as possible – ensuring it works for the UK and the UAS industry. Until the CAA releases further information, applicants should use the guidance in CAP 722A when conducting the Specific category risk assessment and when planning applications.
ARPAS-UK is delighted to announce that we will be exhibiting at GeoBusiness 2023.
We’re much looking forward to seeing Members, Prospective Members and those wanting to know more about how the drone industry operates in the Geospatial world at GeoBusiness. The event will be on May 17-18, 2023, at ExCel, London, co-located with Digital Construction Week. Come along and see both shows!
The show will be of particular interest to anyone working in the geospatial industry: surveyors, construction, local authorities, planners, drone related businesses and is THE place for highly informative talks, great discussions and tips on what is coming soon. Help make it even better!
So, do you have something geospatial to say, a new product to launch, an insight that you want to share? Please get in touch with us via membership@arpas.uk We are gathering speaker information for the show.
We also have a 10% discount available for new exhibitors to the show. Get in touch for more details.
25 Jan 2023
with
Stuart Lindsay, Head, Airspace Modernisation, Civil Aviation Authority
Kevin Woolsey, Co-Head, General Aviation and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, Civil Aviation Authority
and
Councillor Keith Artus, Chairman, Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group (SASIG); Helen Hearn, Director, Spectrum Policy, Ofcom; Dr Ruth Mallors-Ray, Director, RMR Consultants; John McKenna, CEO, sees.ai; Nicholas Paines KC, Commissioner for Public Law, Law Commission; Andrew Sage, Director, Safety Transformation, National Air Traffic Services; Fiona Smith, Group Head of Aerodrome Strategy, AGS Airports
and
Andrew Chadwick, Connected Places Catapult; Sam Durham, NFU; Dr Anton Howes, Entrepreneurs Network; Stuart McGlynn, Cyberhawk
Chaired by:
Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate, Vice President, All-Party Parliamentary Group on General Aviation
This conference is bringing together stakeholders and policy makers to discuss the future of remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) regulation and commercial use in the UK.
It comes as the CAA updates the Airspace Modernisation Strategy, and Ofcom consults on spectrum management for unmanned aircraft systems – with further studies being conducted by UKRI and the Law Commission.
Delegates will discuss the priorities for the safe and effective integration of unmanned and remotely piloted aircraft systems into UK airspace, and what is needed from regulators and users to enable routine operations beyond visual line of site (BVLOS).
They will also examine emerging RPAS applications in key industries, the integration of drones into existing practices and business models, and the priorities for building business cases and attracting investment.
Booking arrangements:
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions below.
You can also pay in advance by credit card on 01344 864796. If advance credit card payment is not possible, please let me know and we may be able to make other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows: