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Small Unmanned Aircraft – Regulations and Safety Threats AOA Safety Conference – 23 Jun 2015

Gerry Corbett UK CAA UAS Programme Lead

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UAS Ops Within UK AirspaceHow do you avoid collisions?

Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) ‘See and Avoid’ responsibilities through direct visual

observation (visually managed – ie. you have to be able to see it) Limited range- Size/Colour, weather conditions 400ft vertical, 500m horizontal – generally accepted limits

Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Detect and Avoid capability – technical solution Segregated Airspace (if no DAA system fitted) Clear evidence of ‘no aviation threat’

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Small Unmanned Aircraft “Any unmanned aircraft, other than a balloon or a kite,

having a mass of not more than 20kg without its fuel but including any articles or equipment installed or attached at the commencement of its flight”

Note - this does not differentiate between model/recreational or other uses

Exempted from the majority of the UK Air Navigation Order (UK Air Law), but 3 specific articles apply: Arts 138, 166 & 167

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ANO 2009 - Key Articles

138 – Endangerment ‘A person shall not recklessly or negligently permit an aircraft to

endanger persons or property’

166 – Small Unmanned Aircraft (20kg or less) Articles or animals must not be dropped ……so as to endanger

persons or property The ‘person in charge’ may only fly the aircraft if reasonably

satisfied that the flight can safely be made (note no specific requirements for ‘airworthiness’)

Person in charge must maintain ‘Direct Unaided visual contact’ – for the purpose of avoiding collisions (ie. VLOS flights only)

>7kg ATC permission for flight in Class A,C,D,E airspace, ATZ’s, or over 400ft agl

Flights for the purpose of aerial work require specific permission to be granted by the CAA.

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ANO 2009 - Key Articles

167 – Small Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft A small unmanned aircraft equipped to undertake

any form of surveillance or data acquisition. Unless in accordance with a permission from the

CAA, must not be flown: Over or within 150m of congested area or assembly of >1000 people Within 50m of vessels, vehicles or structures (not under the control

of the person in charge of the aircraft) Within 50m of any person (exceptions exist for take-off/landing (30m)

and persons under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft)

Art 167 ‘covers off’ flights which are not aerial work Currently covers the range 0-20kg – minimum mass

under consideration (500g?)

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Small UAS (20kg or less) Challenges

Simple/light touch – no licensing, no ‘airworthiness’ specs VLOS only ops Basic responsibility on ‘person in charge’ Risk based - Operational Limitations where needed Created numerous business opportunities – ‘disruptive

technology?’

But…… Rapid expansion in UK Inexpensive types outwardly appear very capable

able to be flown out of sight – height and range ‘Leisure’ operator/’casual user’

New, non aviation operators – Education difficulties Regulation ‘confronted by reality’ ?

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Small UAS – Have we got it right? CAA has sought to be ‘UAS Friendly’, but:

Increasing proliferation of very small and small UAS – much smaller (and more capable) models than originally envisaged

Recent media and Government attention Most notable increase in ‘leisure user’ – mass market, inexpensive The very smallest are toys and pose no aviation safety risk

Is Aviation Regulation the most appropriate way to deal with all ‘drones’? Is the regulation enforceable?

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Small UAS – Where is regulation required?

 

Public Order/SafetyRisks to Aviation

Security Privacy/Public Perception

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What is the aviation regulator’s role?

 

Public Order/SafetyRisks to Aviation

Security Privacy/Public Perception

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Aviation risks Airprox Reports

Summer 2014 – Southend (1500ft), Heathrow (700ft) Increasing No. of reports recently filed Common theme is flight out of sight of the person in charge

Ignorance ? (new users) or ‘deliberate’ (know the score, but think they know better’)?

Risks not confined to the UK – International problem

GeoFencing – software limitations on performance DJI products – the vast majority (specifically Phantom)

‘No-Fly zones’ – around airports and ‘designated areas’ Height limiters – new products set to 400ft (but can be adjusted)

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Education? Best short term measure? Majority of people are ‘responsible citizens’ Making people aware of the risks should remove most of

the problem - Getting to the ‘ignorant few’ is harder Need to make it socially unacceptable? Emphasise the hazard, but don’t get over emotional

Future media campaign? ‘Drone safety awareness week’ Whole industry involvement (ie. not just CAA)

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UK Publicity campaign leaflet

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What’s just round the corner?

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www.caa.co.uk/uas

gerry.corbett@caa.co.uk