FLY SMART, FLY SAFE
Great news for the UK’s General Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems communities! The Department for Transport is now funding the Electronic Conspicuity (EC) Rebate Scheme until 31st March 2024.
Electronic Conspicuity (EC) technology promotes airspace safety by enabling pilots and drone users to identify nearby aircraft and avoid collisions. This involves devices on planes and drones that share information, as well as tools on the ground and in space to enhance situational awareness.
The scheme offers eligible applicants a 50% rebate (up to £250) on the cost of purchasing an EC device to encourage adoption. Stay safe in the sky with EC technology!
The UK CAA Innovation team have been busy again, developing some useful guidance for innovators.
1. CAP2537 provides a short information notice on the UK CAA approach for #certification of #eVTOL aircraft. www.caa.co.uk/CAP2537
2. CAP2538 describes the considerations for Aerodromes and Vertiports planning to operate Vertical Take-off and Landing Aircraft (VTOL) www.caa.co.uk/CAP2538
3. CAP2539 guides the Advanced Air Mobility industry on how to applying the CAA’s #ConsumerPrinciples. www.caa.co.uk/CAP2539
Please be advised, with effect from 10 Aug 23, NOTAM Proposals via email will no longer be accepted by the UK NOF.
In support of this, NATS will make available its AFTN NOTAM functionality for free, for all users. This facility will be available via AFPEX June 15th:
www.myafpex.co.uk
Apply for an AFPEX account here:
https://ts1.flightplanningonline.co.uk/applyingForAnAccount.html
AFPEX Help/Guides are available here:
www.myafpex.co.uk/guides/notam.php
Further details are available in AIC Y039/23.
A session exploring the use cases of how drones can work within the agricultural sector, including spraying and spreading from drones.
AutoSpray Systems has the equipment in the UK, and are currently undertaking other testing and seeding/ spraying within traditional agricultural settings. They have the Operational Authorisation from the UK CAA to use Unmanned Aircraft for this use case. Their staff are also a UK CAA Approved Recognised Assessment Entity with over 5 years’ experience and wrote the Operational Safety Case for the CAA, which they accepted and ultimately approved their Operational Authorisation based on this documentation. This is the first authorisation of its kind in the UK.
They have a proven track record of developing a product and developing new marketplaces for these products.
Speaker Info:
Andrew Sproson, Co-owner of AutoSpray Systems
Andrew has a Professional background in the Emergency Services, involving Critical Incident Planning, Search and Rescue Operations and Resource Management.
Andrew has been an Unmanned Aircraft Pilot for over 7 years, and his company has been a CAA Approved Recognised Assessment Entity since 2018.
Andrew is also a qualified Counter Drone Operative and deployed this technology in the field.
Andrew has created Unmanned Aircraft departments in over 300 Organisations and instilled a very high standard of safety.
In 2020, Andrew co-founded AutoSpray Systems and developed the methodologies and risk assessments associated with obtaining an authorisation to spray chemicals with a drone that is over 25Kgs and for Agricultural / Horticultural and Forestry uses.
Andrew has further developed a bespoke training package for Remote Pilots, to adopt these skills and utilise the technology in farming.
Andrew co-wrote the LANTRA approved Chemical Drone Spraying Qualification.
