#dronesforgood - ARPAS UK

SAM IS ....

Soliciting Drone Safety Feedback: Your Valuable Insights Needed

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requests the valued input of the drone and model aircraft community on two essential publications:

As the RPAS industry grows, understanding potential behaviours and reactions as remote pilots becomes crucial. Human error accounts for over 30% of reported loss of control (LOC) events, emphasising the need for vigilance.

Maintaining safety demands diligent pre-flight checks, prudent battery management, and heightened situational awareness. Share your perspectives via the Online Survey to contribute to drone safety.

Click here to access the survey

Mohammed Hasan

SAM IS ....

CAP2555: Guidance on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods as Cargo for UAS/RPAS Operators in the Specific Category

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced the issuance of CAP2555, providing comprehensive guidance on the carriage of dangerous goods (DG) for UAS/RPAS Operations in the Specific Category. The document was published on 27th July 2023.

This document has been developed to ensure the safe transport of dangerous goods when operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). It is applicable to RPAS operators in the Specific Category, both those with approval to carry DG and those without approval.

As part of the initiative, the CAA has made available two Manual Templates on its website:

These templates have been designed to facilitate streamlined procedures, adherence to safety standards, and promotion of responsible drone operations.

Operators of RPAS in the UK should note that the Application for Approval to Transport Dangerous Goods by Air (SRG2807) now extends to include RPAS operators. As such, all RPAS operators must comply with the guidelines outlined in CAP2555 during their operations.

It is important to highlight that the guidance material aligns with UK law, and any references to EU regulations or websites in this document are not applicable after the UK-EU transition.

Drone operators are encouraged to download the CAP2555 document in PDF format from the CAA website.

The CAA urges all RPAS operators to prioritise safety and responsibility while conducting operations. CAP2555 and the accompanying manual templates serve as invaluable resources to ensure the meticulous handling and transportation of dangerous goods in the drone industry.

Read more on the CAA website here.

Let us collectively endeavour to maintain the safety of the skies for the benefit of all and foster responsible drone operations.

Mohammed Hasan

SAM IS ....

Altitude Angel Platform Launch Hailed as a ‘Key Step’ for UK Aviation

Drone flight approval platform can catapult the UK to the top of the world ‘drone readiness’ table

Baroness Vere, Aviation Minister, hails the platform launch ‘a key step’ for UK aviation

London, UK: Altitude Angel, the world’s most trusted UTM (Unified Traffic Management) technology provider, is to provide all UK airports with the ability to become ‘UTM Ready’ and by doing so will put the UK at the top of the world’s most advanced nations for drone operations and service readiness.

Whilst Japan, Switzerland, France, Germany, and Italy, have seen their drone ecosystems develop faster than the UK’s due to regulatory advancements, none have been able to deploy a standard, nationwide, digital approval service across its airport infrastructure.

But from Monday the UK will have the opportunity to leap ahead and lead the ‘drone readiness’ table as operators, and in the future air taxi pilots, across the country will be able to submit requests to fly in the controlled airspace of over 120 airports via the Drone Assist app and DroneSafetyMap.com, which are connected to Altitude Angel’s Approval Services platform.

On this significant digital milestone for the UK’s airport infrastructure, Aviation Minister Baroness Vere, said: “Aviation goes beyond the traditional modes of flying and is fast becoming a hub of revolutionary new methods of flight so it’s important that the UK is ready for the next generation of flight.

“This platform will help make airspace more accessible for innovative aircraft, keeping track of those who want to fly in airport airspace and is a key step towards achieving the ambitious outcomes that we are setting through the Future of Flight Industry Group.”

Airports already supported by Approval Services will be able to approve (or decline) the flight request digitally, in some cases giving the operator an almost instantaneous answer.

For those airports which aren’t connected to the digital platform and are still using analogue processes, Altitude Angel will facilitate the request on behalf of the operator by issuing the relevant airport a detailed summary of the planned UAS operation, via email, to ensure compliance with Article 94A of the Air Navigation Order 2016 so further co-ordination and approval can occur. Crucially, this provides the drone operator with a seamless experience at any airport, whereas today each can be different.

“This is a major step for the UK as we put in place the foundations on which our [the UK’s] future transport and delivery infrastructure will be built”, said Richard Parker, Altitude Angel, CEO and founder.

“By rolling out our platform to all airports, we’re saying to the world the UK is ready and open to UAS and crewed aircraft, sharing the same skies, safely and securely. By bringing the digitisation of drone approvals in managed airspace, we’ve cleared the first hurdle on the path to automated drone operations.”

Altitude Angel’s UTM Ready programme will classify airports in one of three categories depending on its ability to approve drone operations digitally, and also sets out a pathway for advancing airports from one level to the next.

A UTM Ready airport will have full digital approvals available. These facilities have deployed compatible UTM services which enable Altitude Angel (or any 3^rd party connected to it) to submit and receive full digital flight authorisations. If using Altitude Angel’s GuardianUTM services, these airports can enable automation or deep integration with existing airport systems, including Counter-UAS.
Those classified as Basic will have no digital approvals, but support electronic notification, typically via email.
Legacy airports have no published electronic means of obtaining digital approvals. Instead, these facilities will typically only offer slow, or analogue means of seeking approval such as via fax, or a telephone call.

In May, Altitude Angel released several significant upgrades to Drone Assist which included a feature providing a direct connection to Altitude Angel’s UTM platform, offering ‘one-tap flight authorisations’ at connected airports and facilities worldwide. Already established as the flight planning app for professional and recreational drone pilots alike, Drone Assist is the foundation stone on which the UK can build a £40billion drone economy.

For more information on Approval Services visit here, and for UTM Ready visit here.

SAM IS ....

Altitude Angel Begins Rolling Out Purpose-built Low-Altitude Aviation Surveillance Network

Network includes ADS-B, Mode S and SDR capabilities plus ability to detect existing and future ‘Remote ID’ broadcasts

London, UK: Altitude Angel, the world’s most trusted UTM (Unified Traffic Management) technology provider, has today announced it has begun its deployments of what is planned to be the largest commercial, aviation-grade sensor network specifically optimised for wide-area low-altitude drone and aircraft detection, in the UK.

Incorporating purpose-built ADS-B and Mode S receivers, as well as comprehensive SDR (Software Defined Radio) capabilities, the network is also capable of detecting existing and future ‘Remote ID’ broadcasts from transmitters on drones, as well as collecting transmission information from the common control systems used to pilot them. This means the sensor network will detect drones which are intentionally electronically broadcasting their location, as well as many which are not. And due to the detection technologies used by Altitude Angel, low-flying crewed aviation can be detected and located using other passive sensors even when they are not broadcasting any signal.

This additional data received by the sensor network is ‘fused’ with Altitude Angel’s already extensive air-surveillance picture (taken from primary sources – such as the sensor arrays deployed on its ARROW towers and trusted secondary providers), to create a high-resolution, near real-time digital map of the low-altitude airspace.

The capability to detect aircraft and drones at lower altitudes is becoming increasingly important and yet, it is exceptionally difficult to do well. Existing systems offer patchy coverage and a ‘one-size fits all’ approach, which means low-altitude aviation broadcasts – such as those from low-flying general aviation aircraft – can be missed, are focused only one particular type of transmission, or due to the equipment used, are often delayed by up to a minute or more. Low-latency is of paramount importance to navigation: a key reason for Altitude Angel’s new network being launched.

The new network has been extensively tested across four sites, but is being rolled out to a further 30 sites across the Midlands and Southeast of England. Altitude Angel is also announcing a programme to enable authorities to soon extend coverage where required, in turn, giving them access to the overall surveillance picture.

“In building this network we’re building the most comprehensive, real-time picture of whatever is moving through the country’s low-altitude airspace,” said Richard Parker, Altitude Angel, CEO and founder. “Coupled with our ARROW technology, the sensor network is a key component in the enablement of the digitisation of low-altitude airspace, leading toward greater visibility of air traffic, and enabling automated BVLOS drone operations anywhere in the UK at scale, while providing operators of uncrewed aircraft the security they need to operate safely in unsegregated airspace.”

Most people are familiar with ‘plane tracking software’, such as Flight Radar or FlightAware, which are great for tracking large aircraft or aircraft at higher altitudes. However, the Altitude Angel network has been designed from the outset to facilitate new and future airspace users, such as drones and UAM operators, whose operations will largely take place in lower airspace.

A dedicated, new, network is needed because at lower altitudes broadcast signals from aircraft are not always reliably received since they were designed for broadcast at higher altitudes. This network is different because it has been specifically optimised and positioned to uniquely work across the UK’s topography, guaranteeing better reception.

Furthermore, the network is being rolled-out using certified, robust, and resilient aviation-grade hardware, and not reliant on hobbyist-style equipment, as is commonly the case. ADS-B is commonly used by general aviation and other air users to broadcast aircraft location and are sometimes carried by drones. Mode S is a Secondary Surveillance Radar process which allows for multilateration of each aircraft according to a unique 24-bit address, or remote ID.

Approved third parties may apply for access to the surveillance data stream through Altitude Angel’s Developer Platform.

SAM IS ....

Future Flight: Securing Investment and Showcasing Your Business- August 3rd

Securing investment in the rapidly evolving field of Future Flight is a crucial aspect for businesses aiming to drive innovation and growth. To shed light on effective strategies for showcasing your business and attracting investment, Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) is hosting a webinar titled “Future Flight: Securing Investment and Showcasing Your Business.”

Taking place on Thursday, August 3, this webinar offers a unique opportunity to hear from prominent investors who have deployed capital into companies operating within the Future Flight space. Participants will gain valuable insights into the criteria and expectations of private finance providers and learn how to effectively present their business opportunities for securing investment

Follow the link to find out more:

https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/future-flight-securing-investment-and-scaling-sustainably-webinar/

Follow Innovate UK KTN on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ktnuk/

Follow UK Research and Innovation on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/uk-research-innovation/

Mohammed Hasan

SAM IS ....

Opportunities for Investing in Future Flight- July 27th

The field of Future Flight is rapidly evolving, with advancements in advanced air mobility, drones, and electric regional flight opening up new horizons for innovation. To delve into the investment potential within this dynamic sector, Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) is hosting a webinar titled “Opportunities for Investing in Future Flight.”

This webinar, scheduled for Thursday, July 27, aims to shed light on the market opportunities, successful developments, and routes to commercial success within the Future Flight landscape. Whether you are a manufacturer, user, investor, or part of an industry group, this webinar provides a unique platform to explore investment prospects and gain valuable insights from key industry leaders.

Follow the link below to sign up:

iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/investing-in-future-flight-webinar/

Follow Innovate UK KTN on linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ktnuk/

Follow UK Research and Innovation on linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/uk-research-innovation/

Mohammed Hasan

SAM IS ....

SYPAQ and Tanglewood Group Partner for Global ‘Corvo’ PPDS UAS Delivery

Partnership formed to support global roll-out of innovative drone solutions

SYPAQ Systems (Australia) and Tanglewood Group (UK) announce today that they have entered into a strategic partnership that will support ongoing global sales of the successful SYPAQ Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System (PPDS) uncrewed aerial system (UAS). On the back of successful delivery of over 500 PPDS autonomous systems to the Ukraine Defence force, SYPAQ and Tanglewood have teamed to support further sales, support and distribution throughout Europe and Middle East.

SYPAQ Systems General Manager Michael Partridge stated “We are very pleased to have Richard and the team at Tanglewood collaborate with us to expand sales of our successful Corvo PPDS autonomous system through Defence and Commercial markets in Europe and the Middle East. Having Tanglewood in closer proximity to these markets will provide more timely and effective support to customers who are looking for world-leading attritable, military-grade autonomous capabilities. We’ve proven this with our Corvo PPDS performance in Ukraine and look to expand this in markets across the globe.”

The Corvo PPDS disposable UAS, now distributed by Tanglewood Group in Europe and Middle East, has been celebrated for its performance in the Ukrainian conflict zone, and continues to be a world-leading, flexible mission, fixed-wing UAS.

SYPAQ’s Corvo PPDS UAS is a low-cost, highly capable fixed-wing autonomous system which can covertly deliver payloads with a high level of accuracy and reliability. Delivered as a flat pack kit to reduce logistic burden and made almost entirely from waxed foamboard, they are easily assembled and operated. The Corvo PPDS has a payload capacity of up to 3kg, has a range of over 100km and can autonomously transit to a specific location and land unassisted. It has been designed and operationally proven as an affordable and adaptable, autonomous UAS providing the end user the ability to innovate during operations.

Tanglewood Co-Founder and Director Richard Glyn-Jones mentioned “We are excited to be working with the Team at SYPAQ and being able to use Tanglewood’s extensive market reach in Europe and the Middle East, together with experience in autonomous systems and sensors, to support the expansion of Corvo PPDS operations. We see the PPDS as key to future military operations as well as being used for Search & Rescue, Law enforcement and humanitarian aid delivery amongst others and the partnership with SYPAQ allows us to develop future technology integrations to expand the use cases. We are looking forward to introducing the PPDS and working closely with the SYPAQ team.”

The Corvo PPDS disposable UAS has been celebrated for its performance in the Ukrainian conflict zone, and continues to be a world-leading, flexible-mission, fixed-wing UAS. For further information PPDS and other SYPAQ Systems UAS products contact info@sypaq.com.au.

For more information go to:

www.corvo-unmanned.com.au

www.sypaq.com.au www.tanglewoodgroup.co.uk/products

SAM IS ....

Aerofirm & ARPAS-UK successful in Future Flight: Closing the Skills Gap Funding Bid

Aerofirm and ARPAS-UK are delighted to announce they have been awarded funding as part of the Future Flight Challenge: Closing the Skills Gap competition.

The project concerns the quantification of risks within complex drone operations, where there is currently a skills gap within the industry. Whilst this approach is used in other sectors, such as traditional manned aviation, its application is very domain specific and it is not yet widely used for drones.

The course will cover the fundamentals of risk quantification then take a deep dive into the specific aspects associated with drone operation such as platform, air and ground risks, human factors and target levels of safety. These topics will be underpinned by case studies and worked examples showing how the techniques are applied to real world situations.

The ultimate output will be a training course that supports the generation of both complex and scalable BVLOS safety cases. It will provide not only the tools needed to achieve this, but develop a mindset which needs to be embodied in any current and future organisation, as the responsibility of the operation is not just in the hands of the author but of all the staff in a company. The course will pull the UK drone industry back to the front of the queue, bringing jobs, investment and unlocking the skies.

Dr Owen McAree, Director of Aerofirm, said: “With this course we aim to help upskill the UK drone industry in the quantification of the risks associated with scalable BVLOS operation. This approach is fundamental in transitioning the industry from todays small scale trials to widespread commercially viable operations, whilst also highlighting the areas of technology development needed to unlock future scalability”

Anne-Lise Scaillierez, CEO of ARPAS-UK, said: “This project will create a course to underpin scalable BVLOS operations. Training operators to understand risk and how to put a number to each element will help to enable safe rollout of BVLOS in the UK. This is fundamental to expanding the drone industry in the UK.”

This course will be developed alongside the soon to be launched ARPAS-UK BVLOS Technical Special Interest Group, which is the companion group which will help to supply the data needed to support BVLOS operations. It is also aligned with the NATS BVLOS Forum which contains the UK’s premier drone operators who will be the ones to write the safety case.

To express interest in the ARPAS BVLOS Technical SIG:

Contact:

bvlos@arpas.uk

About Aerofirm:

Aerofirm Ltd are experts in the technical aspects of commercial drone operations with a focus on safety engineering. Director, Dr Owen McAree, previously worked as a researcher and Head of Flight Operations at a number of top UK universities where he oversaw drone operations around the world and published over 40 peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to risk quantification. During this time he gained experience in developing and delivering course material for students from a diverse academic background.

For more information visit: www.linkedin.com/company/aerofirm/about/

About ARPAS-UK:

Founded in 2013, ARPAS-UK’s objective is to collectively achieve the benefits of using drones for its members, the UK economy and wider society. ARPAS-UK is the only non-commercial professional body, solely representing the drone community in the UK.

As well as promoting Best Practice, the Association also encourages a culture of collaboration and information sharing so that members are better informed and better prepared to make the most from market opportunities. Promoting our members and the standards we set, enables end users to easily identify the best and most appropriate operators to hire for their specific needs.

For more information about us: About Us – ARPAS UK

For more information on joining: Joining Info – ARPAS UK

The Future Flight Challenge

The Future Flight challenge at UK Research and Innovation and delivered by Innovate UK, has over the past few years invested £125 million in funding to develop and show integrated aviation systems and new vehicle technologies. The Skills Gap is part of this funding and will invest up to £500,000 into projects that can create and deliver course content and materials to support skills, talent and training across the future flight sector.

For more about the Future Flight Challenge: UKRI Challenge Fund – UKRI

Mohammed Hasan

SAM IS ....

West Midlands Police Drone Unit on Channel 4: Sky Coppers

Go behind the scenes with the West Midlands Police Drone Unit who hunt criminals from the sky!

Channel 4 have joined Keith Bennett and his team at West Midlands Police to gain a unique insight to their operation. Sky Coppers shows the huge range of jobs that the dedicated team deploy to, from helping to locate vulnerable missing people, to searching for fleeing or hiding suspects, to scouring for potential victims in burning buildings.

The series showcases how drone technology assists officers in their investigations, tracking criminals from the sky.

With nearly 400 drones being used by forces across the UK, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Drones Lead at the National Police Chiefs Council, emphasises that drones are a highly effective, safe, and cost-effective tool to support frontline policing.

The series, made up of six hour-long episodes, will air from 11 July 2023 at 9pm on Channel 4, with episodes going out every Tuesday.

All episodes will be available as a boxset on Channel 4’s on demand service immediately after the broadcast of the first episode.

Save this link to watch: Watch Sky Coppers | Stream free on Channel 4

SAM IS ....

Responsible Drone Use in Biodiversity Conservation: webinar 11 July 2023

Responsible Drone Use in Biodiversity Conservation

Date & Time: Tuesday 11 July 2023 2.30-6.30pm

Venue: Online

While geospatial technologies have long been essential tools of conservation, the development of drones has greatly expanded the possibilities for monitoring and protecting biodiversity and threatened landscapes. However, given that drones can capture data of humans and be deployed in wildlife-rich and inhabited areas, they can also have unforeseen social and ecological impacts.

On July 11th, with speakers and practitioners (including ecologists, biologists, social scientists, and conservation experts) from across the globe, we will explore the ethical and political considerations of drone use, and strategies to mitigate the potential impacts and dangers to humans and wildlife alike.

This event is for policy-makers, environmental and conservation organisations, academics, social scientists, and anyone with an interest in the ethical and political considerations of drone use.

For more information, including access to the policy brief:

More Info & Register

5 July 2023