FLY SMART, FLY SAFE
The UK’s leading drone operators have called on the Government to change the way uncrewed aviation is regulated, and break down the barriers to uncrewed flight that risk the UK missing out on the ‘drone opportunity’.
The comments come in a new White Paper published by the BVLOS Operations Forum, a consortium of advanced drone and technology companies that are pioneering the use of remotely piloted aircraft ‘beyond visual line of sight’ (BVLOS).
‘South of the Clouds: A roadmap to the next generation of uncrewed aviation’, sets out the industry’s vision of how new types of aircraft, like drones, can be integrated into the UK’s busy skies, and what steps the Government needs to take to make it happen.
Organisations in the Forum are already using drones to deliver cancer treatments and vital medical supplies to patients in remote areas; in search & rescue operations by HM Coastguard; and for conducting infrastructure inspections and monitoring in a more sustainable, safer way. But because Government regulations have evolved more slowly than the technologies in this sector, these types of remotely piloted flights are limited to very restricted areas of airspace, making regular commercial services difficult to deliver. ‘South of the Clouds’ presents a collective industry view of how policymakers could address that problem.
“This White Paper has been co-created by the Forum to outline the imperative of uncrewed flight”, said Russell Porter, Chair of the BVLOS Operations Forum and Head of UTM Programmes at air traffic services company NATS.
“The way forward to achieving routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations, integrated with other air traffic, will require significant policy change from both the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority.
“While there have been positive developments, not least in the Future Flight Challenge and the recently published Airspace Modernisation Strategy, this fast-growing sector is adamant we need to go further, faster, if we are to make uncrewed aircraft a safe and effective option in the aeronautical toolbox.”
Among the policy recommendations is a call for all aircraft to be equipped with ‘electronic conspicuity’ technology to show their location – without this, drones would effectively be flying blind to what’s around them – as well as reform of the regulatory system to enable remotely piloted flights in more areas of airspace, rather than restricted or temporary environments.
Also proposed is a roadmap that sets out a vision for how airspace could be managed for uncrewed aircraft in the future, and the steps required to get there, so that those in the industry can plan and invest accordingly.
“With reduced emissions, reduced cost, and improved safety, uncrewed aircraft can achieve extraordinary things that everyone, in all parts of the UK, will benefit from, and BVLOS is key to unlocking that full potential,” said Russell Porter.
“The next generation of aviation is coming, and now is the time to act to make it a reality.”
To read ‘South of the Clouds: A roadmap to the next generation of uncrewed aviation’, visit: https://www.nats.aero/sotc
27 February 2023
BVLOS Operations Forum unites innovators to unlock the next generation of aviation
Pioneering companies in the emerging uncrewed aviation industry have joined forces in a forum established by air traffic control leader NATS, to break through the barriers to the UK industry’s development.
The BVLOS Operations Forum, which includes the UK’s leading beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operators, brings together organisations at the cutting edge of uncrewed flight to learn from each other’s experiences, collectively improve their operations, and jointly develop solutions to the challenges faced by this fast-growing industry.
The ever-increasing number of operators believe there are huge potential benefits to achieving routine BVLOS flights – including increased connectivity, decarbonisation, and economic opportunities for all parts of the country. Because innovation in this sector has moved so quickly, regulations have not yet caught up, meaning BVLOS flights are still restricted to specific areas.
Some progress has been achieved and the Forum has actively supported recent policy initiatives which set out a positive direction from the Government and the regulator. However, operators are still operating in restricted spaces. While these have allowed the sector to hone operations and develop real opportunities for BVLOS services, many operators, including members of the BVLOS Operations Forum, have now outgrown the available capacity and the constraints are posing a genuine challenge to their business model. Looking for ways to address that, while encouraging ever-increasing safety standards, is the central mission of the Forum.
The BVLOS Operations Forum has given those seeking to operate uncrewed aircraft beyond-visual-line-of-sight a platform to work together, and a means for driving change and establishing a safe and workable regulatory regime that will benefit the industry as a whole.
This method of working together has been used by traditional airspace operators for many years and has contributed to the robust safety culture that exists today. By uniting uncrewed operators with extensive experience and equally extensive ambition we can develop a similarly robust safety culture, and collectively plot a course toward safely integrated BVLOS operations.
Russell Porter, Head of UTM Programmes at NATS and Chair of the BVLOS Operations Forum.
The founding members of the Forum include ARPAS-UK, Blue Bear, Callen Lenz, Flylogix, Maritime & Coastguard Agency, NATS, Network Rail, sees.ai, Skyports and Windracers, all of whom are actively involved in developing BVLOS operations, and some of whom are already operating BVLOS flights commercially.
The shared goal is to achieve routine BVLOS operations, outside of restricted areas and integrated with other traffic, making uncrewed aircraft a safe and effective option in the aeronautical toolbox.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
For more information about the BVLOS Operations Forum please contact [email protected]. For more information about individual Forum members please use the details below.
About ARPAS-UK
ARPAS-UK is the only non-profit industry trade association and professional body, focused on the development of the UK drone community. Founded in 2013, ARPAS supports members from start-up businesses to larger established operators, manufacturers, software providers and service companies, through promotion of innovation and best practice.
ARPAS works in the public interest, and advocates professionalism within its membership through compliance with an agreed Code of Conduct and the holding of appropriate permissions. The Association takes progressive stances on national issues to embed the drone profession in all end-user industries, to enable it to continue to grow in reputation and influence
CONTACT: Rupert Dent, [email protected] / 07989 300918 or Aleks Kowalski, [email protected] / 07971 447407
About Blue Bear
Blue Bear are pioneers of autonomy and unmanned systems; evolving unmanned concepts, regardless of size, at a pace unmatched by other organisations. We deliver efficient solutions, professional services and commercial results, supporting both military and civil markets worldwide, with unmatched pace, agility, passion and innovation. Blue Bear’s track record in innovative research and flight test has won us several awards and a prime position in the domain of UAV development.
Blue Bear are designing future aircraft systems, including an all-electric propulsion module, accelerating the electrification of various classes of electric aircraft and leading a consortium developing and building an affordable, sub-regional aviation network that is zero carbon, highly automated and centrally focused on customer experience.
CONTACT: Lee Tomas, [email protected] / 01234 826620
About Callen Lenz
Callen-Lenz is a UK market leader for innovative technology solutions and complementary technical consultancy, for manned and unmanned aviation. Harnessing the latest, state-of-the-art technologies enables the company to create ground-breaking technological aerospace solutions and aerospace technology, for unmanned systems that require high levels of functionality, availability and safety. Outputs include bespoke aircraft, rapid prototyping, upgrades, software, avionics and technical services. Callen-Lenz is a sovereign British company with a number of international partners.
CONTACT: Piers Hankinson, 01722 744946
About Flylogix
Flylogix is a UK company pioneering new sustainable ways for companies to use unmanned aviation for missions and logistics without hindrance (human, weather, location) and with the least harm to the planet. Its advanced engineering combines next-generation technology with tough, small unmanned craft that can fly to the most remote locations, up to 500 km beyond the horizon, in some of the world’s harshest weather conditions. Flylogix services are in operation with leading global partners from the energy industries to support them to accurately measure methane emissions and with emergency response services such as Oil Spill Response Ltd (OSRL) working to reduce the cost and risk of global spill response.
CONTACT: Chris Adams, [email protected] / 07779 696833
About Maritime & Coastguard Agency
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is a frontline emergency response agency of the Department for Transport. As well as delivering maritime search and rescue through HM Coastguard (one of the four UK emergency services), the MCA is responsible for maritime regulation, safety and counter-pollution.
For further information about this or any MCA news story, please contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office on 020381 72222 or [email protected]. You can also find us on hmcoastguard.blogspot.co.uk and on Twitter @MCA_media.
About NATS
NATS is the UK’s principal air navigation services provider and is split into two main businesses, which provide two distinct services:
NATS is alive to the opportunities that new airspace users present for airspace in the future and has worked closely with early innovators. Safety is always our number one priority, and we are working with increasing intensity to support the growth of this exciting new industry by safely integrating new users into a sustainable, modernised and fully integrated airspace.
For more information visit the NATS website at www.nats.aero
CONTACT: Press Office, [email protected] / 01489 445699
About Network Rail
Network Rail owns, operates and develops Britain’s railway infrastructure. That’s 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We manage 20 of the UK’s largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are managed by the country’s train operating companies.
We exist to get people and goods where they need to be and to support our country’s economic prosperity, by running a safe, reliable and efficient railway, serving customers and communities.
For more information visit Network Rail website at https://www.networkrail.co.uk/
CONTACT: Jack Harvey, [email protected]
About sees.ai
sees.ai has developed a semi-autonomous drone inspection system that enables national
scale drone operations to be piloted and managed from a central location. This technology
removes the requirement for skilled pilots to travel to the inspection site and as a result,
dramatically increases the scalability of drone operations whilst maintaining the highest
standards of quality and safety. The system is particularly well suited to detailed drone
inspection and survey of industrial assets and infrastructure, where it is necessary to get
close to the asset in hazardous environments. It simultaneously captures both 2D and 3D
information (digital twin), dramatically improving the ability to automate analysis, reducing
time and cost of inspection and maintenance.
Inspired by the team’s backgrounds in Formula 1, sees.ai uses advanced telemetry,
diagnostics, analytics and simulation tools to make it possible to safely deliver this capability
at national scale. The company was an early participant in the Civil Aviation Authority’s
(CAA) Regulatory Sandbox. The company currently holds the most advanced BVLOS
permission ever given by the CAA.
For more information visit the sees.ai website at: https://www.sees.ai/
CONTACT: Amanda Prosser, [email protected] / +44 7792 108193
About Skyports
Skyports Drone Services is an industry leading drone operator. The company is expert in the operation of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and autonomous flight for a multitude of use cases, including ship-to-shore and maritime applications, medical and dangerous goods deliveries, survey and monitoring operations. In addition to pioneering operations, Skyports Drone Services plays a key role in the development of the regulatory ecosystem for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
Skyports Drone Services is a business division of Skyports. Formed in 2018, Skyports is driven by a vision to enable society to enjoy a safer, happier, wealthier existence by improving connectivity to people and goods through the provision of AAM infrastructure and drone services, whilst protecting the planet for future generations.
Find out more at: skyportsdroneservices.com
CONTACT: Maggie Mullan, [email protected] / +44 (0) 7946 090585
About Windracers
The middle mile of supply and logistics, especially to remote locations, has long been overlooked by the industry and is ripe for innovation. Windracers spent the last five years developing the most commercially viable logistics drones to enable the transport of goods and essential supplies to remote regions around the UK and beyond. The company specialises in all aspects of the value chain, including R&D, manufacturing, and operations. The team has extensive expertise in working with the CAA, and as such has been allowed to operate BVLOS point-to-point flights in over 10 locations in the UK.
CONTACT: [email protected]
28 July 2022
Following the publication of the report for the Airspace4All-NATS Drone Infringement Safeguarding Project, the popular GA VFR flight planning & navigation software application SkyDemon has added a new traffic icon to represent drones.
This new drone traffic icon will be displayed when traffic is detected via ADS-B which has an ‘Emitter Category’ of ‘UAV’.
SkyDemon’s aural spoken warnings have also been updated to say “drone ahead, 2 miles”, etc.
These changes will come into effect with SkyDemon’s next general release of their software.
22nd November 2019
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Airspace4All has published the report on the joint Airspace4All-NATS Drone Infringement Safeguarding Research.
Airspace4All and NATS, working together with City Airport (Manchester Barton), EJS-Aerial and the University of Manchester devised and conducted a research project to assess the real-world situational awareness potential of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. The research project was specifically focussed on situational awareness of drone operators and other airspace users, through the use of ADS-B technology, in the mixed UK General Aviation (GA) environment.
A flight programme was undertaken at Barton airfield with drones and GA aircraft all equipped with ADS-B transceivers (ADS-B Out & In) and traffic displays, while Barton ATS were able to observe with the aid of equipment provided as part of the separate Airspace4All GA Airfield ATS ADS-B Traffic Display Trial.
21st November 2019
From Airspace4All.org
Designed with new drone owners and hobbyists in mind, the animated course presents an overview of current UK flight safety rules and regulations governing drone use and features a series of interactive quiz questions based on key elements of responsible drone operation.
Steve Graham, Head of Business Engagement at NATS, said: “We hope new and existing drone users will find our new online hobbyist course useful as a fun-to-use tool with a serious message.
“NATS strongly supports fair and equal access for all types of aircraft, manned and unmanned, in integrated airspace – and it is important that all users of airspace do so safely, responsibly, and with due regard for the needs of others.
“By designing an animated video with clear and accessible voiceover narration and multiple-choice quiz questions, our aim is to provide accurate and practical information as a reference guide that will be helpful for all drone operators, especially new drone owners and hobbyists.”
NATS’ new Drone Hobbyist Online Course is available on the NATS website here: https://www.nats.aero/apps/hobbyist/
15th October 2019