Snowdonia Aerospace have a great opportunity for ARPAS Members, Supporters, Followers and others who are affected to influence the size, shape and height of new dedicated drone flying testing space at and around Llanbedr Airfield. Snowdonia Aerospace need to hear from you as a matter of urgency to help secure this airspace for future BVLOS development.
The Company, which owns Llanbedr Airfield in North Wales, has commenced an airspace change proposal with the CAA and are working on design options for this airspace. So, what do you need to test your platforms and sensors and comms links and detect and avoid etc? What size of BVLOS airspace? To what altitude? What distances would you envisage flying BVLOS over the next five to ten years if you had the freedom to do this in dedicated airspace ahead of flying in non-segregated airspace? Over what environments (land, water etc.) and any specific features? Even when drones are able to fly in non-segregated airspace operational safety cases will have to be developed and equipment tested, before platforms can fly freely and Llanbedr is becoming increasingly recognised as the leading centre in the UK for testing and development of novel aircraft – military drones were tested there for some 50 years up until 2004.
Snowdonia Aerospace are seeking to establish airspace that will accommodate your needs now and in the future ten years and which should be appropriate in size and only turned on when required.
Snowdonia Aerospace envisage an area of airspace large enough to trial larger drones and give access to the unlimited altitude D201 Cardigan Bay Danger Area 14nm south west of Llanbedr Airfield, for HALE, but also small enough to adequately accommodate BVLOS trials for smaller drones. To comply with the requirement of flexible use of airspace policy the airspace would be turned on an off as and when it is needed. Crucially this needs to be in an area of permanent airspace so drone operators, have certainty a trial can be booked and accommodated without a need to apply for a Temporary Airspace 90 days in advance. You will have a flexibility and freedom to get flying and get testing in civilian managed dedicated airspace at a sensible cost.
Help Snowdonia Aerospace help you! They need to understand what your ideal airspace would be and for what sort of platform including a weight and wing span. The size and altitude should include what you would deem necessary as a buffer and that should be stated. Secondly, in order to secure this airspace Snowdonia Aerospace need to have a business case, so, without commitment can you tell them when you may like to trial at Llanbedr Airfield and for what period. It could be for a few days several times a year perhaps, or a month block – exactly whatever you might need. The earliest the new permanent airspace will gain approval is August 2021 but the CAA have assured Snowdonia Aerospace they will continue to allow BVLOS from Llanbedr until then through TDA permissions.
All responses will be held in strictest confidence. You can see the airspace proposal on line at: airspacechange.caa.co.uk and type in the postcode LL45 2PX. Snowdonia Aerospace have to upload evidence to the portal but all names and company names are redacted in line with Data Protection.
Finally, and you will see this on the CAA portal, Snowdonia Aerospace also have another airspace application in process for an ATZ and the main justification for this is for RAF flying training. This is for circuit training weekdays and is on an opportunity basis. So, when the new airspace for drone flying is activated there will be no conflicting fast jet activity taking place at the same time.
Snowdonia Aerospace are developing the airfield for mixed use with a primary focus on research and development and testing and evaluation of future flight technology and aircraft in support of the UK and Welsh Government commitments to this increasingly important emerging sector of the aerospace industry.
ARPAS Members, Followers, Supporters and others who are affected are urged to contact Snowdonia Aerospace asap to help create a unique permanent airspace for BVLOS flight.
Please email: admin@snowdoniaaerospace.com or contact David Young on 07836591596.
Replies / Details are required by the close of play on the 10th June 2020