Technology is revolutionising the way we fly. Remotely piloted drones are offering safer, cheaper and faster services of a scope unimaginable a decade ago. Piloted electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are undergoing flight testing. These are quiet, zero-emissions aircraft, that will carry commercial passengers in just a few years’ time. The economic and societal potential is very real and very large. The drone sector alone is predicted to provide a positive impact worth £1.6 billion per year to UK GDP up to 2030, amounting to £45 billion in total1 and Future Flight2 has the potential to cut carbon emissions and connect society across our regions.
ICAO: Advancing the adoption of unmanned aircraft systems to improve air mobility
In 2022 there were two very distinct and well-attended events that focused on key issues relating to remotely-piloted and unmanned aircraft systems: RPAS 2022 and DRONE ENABLE 2022. There are numerous benefits to be derived from globally-harmonized UAS standards and practices, for both governments and the industry. These annual events provide excellent opportunities to drive consensus and progress with the hopes of expanding the civil and humanitarian potential of new model aircraft.
Read more about this article that provides a deep dive into the discussions and outcomes from both events.
The CAA has launched a consultation on proposals to modify the guidance on the regulatory process for airspace change, known as CAP1616.
On first publication in 2018, the CAA committed to review the CAP1616 process three years after its implementation. The review gives the CAA the opportunity to reflect on the lessons learned and make further improvements to the airspace change process.
You can respond to the consultation at the dedicated website.
The consultation closes on 5 March 2023.
16 January 2023
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Following milestone first flight Open Skies Cornwall aims to connect remote communities via drones
Open Skies Cornwall achieve milestone first flight in urban environment and invite the Cornish Community to help shape the UK’s first Skyhighways to support the future of Drone Delivery in Cornwall
Ten leading companies and organisations have partnered together to unlock four Cornish airspace environments for the development of the next generation of unmanned aircraft, and to establish a network of ‘Skyhighways’ to connect remote communities for real world end users in Cornwall via drone.
● Open Skies Cornwall consortium have launched their Cornish Community consultation to help shape the UK’s first Skyhighways to support the future of Drone Delivery in Cornwall between 2023-24.
● Project launch event included a milestone flight where project partners achieved the UK’s first urban maritime drone flight in the newly designed Falmouth Harbour Maritime Drone Testbed Airspace Environment which has become the UK’s first Drone Friendly Harbour with a focus on supporting next generation net-zero maritime logistic capabilities.
● As part of the event: Open Skies Cornwall partner Skyports Drone Services successfully showcased the capability of their maritime drone fleet using landing locations sourced by the Drone Delivery Register to help stimulate Falmouth harbour users to sign up to the projects’ ship to shore trials which are scheduled for operation in 2023/24.
● During the launch event at the National Maritime Museum, project lead DronePrep, unveiled the Drone Delivery Register: an online tool designed to showcase how landowners, the public and businesses can help shape Cornwall’s future drone delivery network and to provide an opportunity to suggest landing locations to support lifeline medical delivery and parcel delivery services in the region.
● Consultation responses from the Drone Delivery Register received in January 2023 will enable the Open Skies Cornwall project partners including Skyports Drone Services, Royal Mail, the NHS, and Falmouth Harbour to use this new mode of transport to form part of their future permanent logistics offering: the £2.4m Open Skies Cornwall R&D funding will allow partners to test, and consult on Skyhighway routes and infrastructure prior to future adoption in 2023-4.
‘Open Skies Cornwall’: A UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge competition winner, has taken off in Cornwall with the aim of using landowner, public and local business feedback to help unlock low-level airspace and enable the roll out of ground infrastructure to support lifeline and commodity deliveries via drone.
The pioneering consortium led by DronePrep, and formed of Falmouth Harbour, Royal Mail, NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, JHUBMED, Cornwall Council, Skyports Drone Services, Neuron Innovations, and University of Southampton are working together to test the next generation of civilian drones, their infrastructure requirements and enabling technology, to serve logistics providers in both public and private sectors across the region.
During the project event at the end of 2022, maritime consortium member Falmouth Harbour and drone operator Skyports Drone Services conducted a live public urban to maritime flight demonstration. The flight between three drone delivery register locations within the Falmouth Harbour Drone Testbed Environment, facilitated by local landowners, provided the public with a first look at how electric cargo could be operated at Falmouth Harbour in the future for ship-to-shore deliveries to provide a more sustainable, efficient logistics service. The event provided a first look at just one of the beneficial services that regular drone services could provide to Cornish communities via the Open Skies Cornwall programme. The flights performed in Falmouth Harbour are a continuation of trials and demonstrations performed in 2021 by DronePrep, Windracers, Skyports Drone Services and Royal Mail between the mainland and within the Isles of Scilly.
The event also marked the first time that the Drone Delivery Register was used. The DronePrep Drone Delivery Register will allow Royal Mail, NHS, Cornwall Council, Falmouth Harbour users, vessel owners, landowners and businesses to register take-off and landing locations for future drone deliveries, share permission to access land and assets, and allow the project partners to test low-level flight corridors (Skyhighways) with agreement of all ground stakeholders. In the future the register will provide insights into how Cornish Communities can support progress in this innovative sector to support lifeline, medical and commodity deliveries in onshore, island and offshore maritime environments
As part of the Open Skies Cornwall programme, partners will invest £2.4m of UKRI Future Flight Funding into Cornwall to build ground/landing infrastructure, unmanned traffic management sensor networks, commission new unmanned aircraft and establish Skyhighways (drone flying corridors) to support medical and commodity delivery for the NHS, Royal Mail, Cornwall Council, JHUBMED and the multiple users of Falmouth Harbour.
The launch event kicked off the Open Skies Cornwall community consultation and invited the public and businesses across Cornwall to help shape the future of drone logistics in the county by using the Drone Delivery Register to feedback opportunities, interest and concerns
Open Skies Cornwall partner Cornwall Council, who have overseen considerable investment via the Cornwall Aerospace programme including their previous investments in the Lizard Range, Lands End Airport, Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, Windracers and the AeroHUB at Spaceport Cornwall, provided facilitation and representatives from Council portfolio holders and Cornwall Aerospace beneficiary companies, whilst JHUBMED outlined their mission to use ‘red cross’ drone solutions to support their humanitarian response in civilian aid scenarios. Open Skies Cornwall Partners Neuron Innovations and the University of Southampton presented their enabling sensor tech and medical research which will support end users of the Open Skies Cornwall project achieve regular flight in the future.
The event also brought together third party organisations including project managers Mott MacDonald who are supporting the Open Skies Cornwall programme, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (Search and Rescue) which has recently commissioned £1billion funding for development of their air rescue capability over 10 years, the Civil Aviation Authority Innovation team, who are pioneering regulation via UKRI Future Flight Challenge projects to serve the next generation of air vehicles and Wholeship who have already opened up an area the size of Luxembourg off the coast of Cornwall specifically for the development of civilian autonomous drone and air taxi services.
The public launch of the Open Skies Cornwall consultation and drone delivery register provides an exciting opportunity for project partners, external stakeholders, businesses, regulators, government agencies, the public and landowners to engage together to establish pioneering infrastructure and launch services to support the development of the next generation of aviation and trailblaze a drone delivery skyhighways network which will have legacy for improving healthcare and commodity logistics for the people of Cornwall.
As we enter 2023 it is very exciting to see the Open Skies Cornwall programme taking flight. The First demonstration flight within the Falmouth Harbour Testbed is the first of many pioneering flights in our unique airspace environments; over the next two years we will be using the intelligence gathered from the community via the Drone Delivery Register to plan for meaningful drone deliveries to support maritime, essential healthcare logistics and parcel delivery. I am looking forward to how our technology partners can work with communities to create sky-highways to better connect the region and create a logistics network fit for the 21st century.
Gareth Whatmore – CEO DronePrep & Project Architect – Open Skies Cornwall
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Serious drone prosecution highlights need for drone users to understand and follow safety rules
Incident is one of the most serious seen in the UK with a drone
Drone pilot pleaded guilty to endangering the safety of an aircraft
Aircraft involved was an extremely rare and historic Hurricane from the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Civil Aviation Authority is reminding drone users of the need to fly safely and follow the rules or face serious consequences
Following a drone pilot pleading guilty to endangering the safety of an historic Second World War Hurricane aircraft when flying his drone, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has called on all drone users to follow the safety rules.
The incident happened on Saturday 9 July 2022 during a fly-past by the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Hurricane aircraft over the Buxton Carnival in Derbyshire. The flight was protected by a short-term airspace restriction which banned all other flying in the area, including drones.
In the UK drone users follow aviation safety rules set by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Virtually all drone users have to register with the CAA* and take an online flyer test. This helps them to understand the safety requirements and includes information about checking the airspace where they want to fly.
Jonathan Nicholson, Assistant Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:
“Flying a drone and endangering an aircraft in this way is totally unacceptable. Drone users have an obligation to understand and follow the rules. While flying a drone can be great fun, it also comes with significant responsibilities. People need to check airspace before they fly their drone and only fly where it is safe and legal to do so.
“Airspace restrictions, like the one in place for this case, apply to even the smallest drones, so it’s really important that people check before they fly. When you use a drone you’re sharing the airspace with many other types of aviation, so it’s vital that drone users consider the safety of everyone when flying.”
PC Matt Moore, Flight Safety Manager for the Derbyshire Constabulary drone team, said:
“Anyone using a drone must follow the rules to make sure they fly safely. As a police drone unit we know the benefits drones can bring to society, but people using a drone in this way not only threaten the safety of aircraft and the public they also damage the future use of drones.”
Even when flying below the 400ft / 120M maximum height for drones it is still possible to be sharing the airspace with other aircraft, such as emergency helicopters and military aircraft.
An RAF spokesperson said:
“The RAF regularly conducts essential low flying training across the UK, drones operating in the vicinity of our aircraft can offer a significant threat to their safety and can be extremely challenging for our aircrew to spot and take avoiding action. Therefore, if a drone operator becomes aware of any military aircraft flying in their vicinity, we would request that they cease flying until the aircraft has passed.”
Never fly more than 120m (400ft) above the surface
Always keep your drone or model aircraft in direct sight, clearly enough that you can tell which way it’s facing
Never fly in an airport’s flight restriction zone unless you have permission
With nearly 300,000 people registered as drone flyers in the UK their use continues to grow both for recreational and commercial purposes. The rules are in place to make sure that drones can safely integrate with other areas of aviation.
Notes to Editors:
The drone pilot was arrested and subsequently charged with endangering an aircraft and operating a drone out of the visual line of sight.
He pleaded guilty to both charges before magistrates at Chesterfield Justice Centre today (Monday 9 January) and he is set to appear again in February for sentencing.
Joint Statement from the DfT & CAA on the Development of a National Standard for Electronic Conspicuity
You will find attached / below the Egis reports on Electronic Conspicuity. They were undertaken on behalf of the DfT and CAA and propose another step forwards on the road to regular un-segregated BVLOS Operations.
As such, the recommendations should be welcomed and have our support.
Networx3 UAV harness tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites for client drone work
L to R Michael Haigh from Comms Byte and Ayron Lockwood from Networx3 x 2
Networx3 UAV is using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites to provide a live feed of its drone flights anywhere and everywhere in the world.
Access to the low orbit satellite internet service has revolutionised how Networx3 UAV’s team of five commercial drone pilots conduct client work.
Using Starlink, and the cloud-based drone admin system FlightHub2, the Networx3 UAV drone fleet can now beam back real-time video of flights from the UK’s most inaccessible places.
The new technology allows Networx3 UAV to work in locations such as remote quarries, culverts, sewers, isolated reservoirs and rural solar or wind farms without having to factor in patchy conventional internet access or ‘internet dead zones’.
Thanks to Networx3 UAV’s investment in Starlink and FlightHub2 there is now nowhere in the four nations from where live drone footage can’t be beamed into a client’s office, mobile phone, laptop or boardroom anywhere in the world.
With a Starlink dish mounted to the Networx3 UAV’s mobile control center van their drones connect to the 3,000- strong satellite network orbiting 550km above the Earth.
Networx3 UAV managing director Ian Ashworth, and commercial drone pilot, said: “Networx3 UAV is now operating at a level where very few drone operators can operate. We have invested heavily in this serious, expensive and complex tech and we can guarantee that our drones can beam back stills and video, in real-time, from the most far-flung and remote internet black spots anywhere in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
“We’re really excited about the work we can now do in mine shafts, pipework, green energy plants and from mountain tops to deep valleys.
“We envisage clients watching their live stream and directing the pilot to particular points of interest or simply watching the flight unfold.”
The Starlink advanced satellite system has only been available in the UK since January 2021. It was designed, as a civilian program, to provide internet to undersupplied regions far from urban centers beaming internet connections to hard-to-reach places across the globe.
But recently Starlink has been a vital source of connectivity during Russia’s war in Ukraine. The satellite network has been used to connect Ukraine with the internet and help it win the drone war.
Stockport-based tech company Comms Byte worked with Networx3 UAV to complete the Starlink install. Director Amjad Shakeel said: “Comms-Byte specialises in helping customers build and maintain IT infrastructure for different types of business situations so the Starlink install was one that we were eager to be involved with.
“It is an innovative, cutting-edge technology with new age, almost sci-fi-like, hardware. The solution allows Networx3 UAV to help its customers to see real-time information of live projects.”
To find out more visit www.networx3uav.co.uk.
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Protected: CAA Committees
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Altitude Angel and Saab to partner on Digital Tower technology
In a joint announcement made on 5th December 2022, Altitude Angel and Saab have revealed they have formed a partnership that will see Altitude Angel’s market-leading UTM technology platform integrated as part of Saab’s Digital Tower (r-TWR) offering.
Saab’s r-TWR is a next-generation Digital Tower solution, which builds on proven Saab video processing, visual presentation, and automation solutions. The Saab r-TWR is a flexible and scalable solution for a broad range of use cases and is already deployed for civil and military airports in Sweden, UK, US, and Germany and with implementations ongoing in Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, and Romania.
With the formal partnership agreement in place, Altitude Angel will begin integrating its GuardianUTM services into the r-TWR digital tower solution offered by Saab, allowing ANSPs and appropriate stakeholders to digitally authorize and manage uncrewed flights in conjunction with crewed flights, directly communicating authorization, clearance, and in-flight instructions to provide enhanced situational awareness of drone operations.
Richard Ellis, Altitude Angel, Chief Business Officer, said: “We’ve been working with Saab Tower Systems and Saab (operating the world’s first Digital Tower Centre in Sundsvall, Sweden) for some time and I’m excited to announce the formal partnership agreement. Our partnership with Saab allows us to seamlessly fuse cutting-edge ATM and UTM technologies in one innovative offering reducing time, effort, and complexity for airports, ANSPs, and drone operators to safely carry out operations integrated into the airspace.
“Through the integration of GuardianUTM, Saab will be able to provide Digital Towers which are equipped and ready for the demands of our future skies, as the use of drones increases and Urban Air Mobility through eVTOL aircraft becomes a day-to-day occurrence.”
Per Ahl, Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions, Chief Executive Officer: “In Altitude Angel, Saab can partner with the provider of the leading UTM platform in order to provide our airport and ANSP customers with the greatest and most accurate picture of the sky they manage. In harmony with the capability, the Saab r-TWR gives us, GuardianUTM Enterprise is providing us with key functionalities the future-proof our product for existing and new customers”
About Altitude Angel:
Altitude Angel is an award-winning provider of UTM (Unified Traffic Management) software, enabling those planning to operate, or develop UTM/U-Space solutions, to integrate robust data and services with minimum effort quickly.
Today, Altitude Angel’s market-defining technology is providing a critical, enabling service on which the future of UTM will be built across the globe. Altitude Angel is leading a consortium of businesses to build and develop 165 miles (265km) of ‘drone superhighways’ connecting airspace above Reading, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Coventry, and Rugby over the next two years. The Skyway superhighway network, enabled using Altitude Angel’s ARROW technology, will unlock the huge potential offered by unmanned aerial vehicles and be a catalyst to enable growth in the urban air mobility industry.
Altitude Angel’s first-party solutions also power some of the world’s leading ANSPs, aviation authorities, and Enterprises, including LVNL (Netherlands) and Avinor (Norway), empowering them with new capabilities to safely manage and integrate drone traffic into national operations.
From a consistent, well-documented, and standards-based platform, drone manufacturers such as DJI and cutting-edge software developers around the world use our Developer Platform to obtain rich, relevant, and local geofencing data, exchange and share flight plans, de-conflict their own flights in real-time and interface with national flight authorization systems. A growing portfolio of enhanced capabilities helps our customers to comply with current and future regulations and interface with changing national systems with minimal effort.
By unlocking the potential of drones and helping national aviation authorities, ANSPs, developers, and enterprise organizations, Altitude Angel is establishing new services to support the growth of the drone industry.
Altitude Angel was founded by Richard Parker in 2014 and is headquartered in Reading, UK.
GuardianUTM enables drone manufacturers and software developers to connect into a rich, dynamic source of accurate, authoritative, and relevant information to support geofencing while offering enhanced UTM capabilities such as a single interface to multi-country flight authorization.
Its companion product, GuardianUTM O/S, supports all the functionality required to deliver national-grade drone traffic management capabilities to any country that wishes to safely unlock the potential of drones.
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defence and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Stephen Farmer, Altitude Angel, Head of Corporate Communications & PR Tel: +44 (0)118 321 4100 [email protected]
ARPAS-UK
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Funding: The Future Flight Skills Challenge. ARPAS-UK welcomes collaboration
Future Flight: Closing the Skills Gap
Competition Opens
Monday 21 November 2022
Competition Closes
Wednesday 1 February 2023 11:00am
Funding Type
Grant
Project Size
Your project’s total grant funding request must be no more than £50,000.
The Future Flight Challenge for Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £500,000 in projects to close aviation industry skills gaps.
The aim of this competition is to create and deliver course content and materials that will support skills, talent and training across the future flight sector. The purpose of this is to build awareness of future flight emerging markets and fill key gaps in the UK’s workforce talent and training capabilities.
Projects can deliver one or more of these objectives:
schools’ engagement
apprenticeships and internships
upskilling and reskilling of existing workforce
technical courses and vocational training
undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development (CPD)
This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated.
ARPAS-UK welcomes collaboration on projects for this Challenge
