See CAA’s publication on:
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.
29 March 2023: 10.30am – 4pm
Location: TTP, Melbourn Science Park, Melbourn, SG8 6EE
Join the Radio Technology SIG at their next in-person event where they will explore the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles industry, to establish the current landscape, the technology needs to evolve and hear from successful examples of UAVs being deployed in real-life.
About:
From Tanzania to Scotland, demonstration missions have shown that UAVs can provide vital services such as delivering medical supplies to regions with limited road infrastructure and inspection of assets in locations hazardous to humans. Being able to do Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) safely and securely is key to make this commercially successful and enable large scale operations. Several pieces of the puzzle need to align to make this commercially successful – ranging from reliable command and control; means to integrate safely with airspace via various layers of deconfliction; optimising for size, weight, and cost to improve uptake; and close integration with enterprise or appropriate use-case workflows.
At this event, you will hear from various stakeholders on their perspective of where the industry is, how technology needs evolve and hear some successful examples of these being deployed in real-life.
The ARPAS-UK Annual Conference was held on Thursday March 2nd 2023 at DARTeC, Cranfield University.
It was so good to see our members again in person after holding the AGM virtually for the last couple of years. Professor Graham Braithwaite of DARTeC mentioned how important conversations over coffee are – and we couldn’t agree more! Connecting, reconnecting, finding common points of interest, or the solution to a problem that’s been bugging you: the importance of holding a conversation, sharing a cup of coffee, or meeting someone who you’ve only connected with previously on LinkedIn can’t be underestimated.
The AGM:
The Annual Conference talks can be found here:
and the:
RUAS, the drone division of Railscape Ltd, and one of the UK’s leading commercial drone service providers, have developed, designed, and patented the UK’s first unmanned aerial precision sprayer (UAPS).
The system, designed to deliver pesticides and herbicides via a sprayer attached to a drone, means a gamechanger in managing locations considered hazardous or difficult to reach using conventional working at height methods.
UAPS delivers safety, efficiency, and environmental benefits and, whilst originally designed to operate in the railway environment, the utility of the sprayer means equally challenging environments are now in scope such as restricted industrial areas or protected historical monuments.
The addition of UAPS to the range of services RUAS can offer reinforces its position as a drone service industry leader. The development of this innovative solution has provided Railscape the opportunity to develop and shape regulatory policy with the HSE (Chemical Regulations Division) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to set the conditions for wider industry success within drone spraying.
For further information, imagery, video footage or interview opportunity, please contact Ed Lewis at [email protected].
RUAS UAPS Video Link – https://youtu.be/yJberxkBrwc
RUAS UAPS Case Study – https://ruas.co.uk/unmanned-aerial-precision-spraying-a-uk-first/
From the CAA on 16 Feb 2022.
The Specific Operating Risk Assessment (SORA) is a way to classify the risk posed by a UAS operation and then identify mitigations and safety objectives to counter those risks. It allows the UAS operator to identify operational limitations and training objectives for the personnel involved in the flights, technical requirements for the aircraft and develop the appropriate operational procedures.
The CAA will be introducing SORA in the UK but for now UAS operators who wish to apply to fly in the Specific category should continue to use the methodology and templates laid out in CAP 722A publication until the CAA provides further updates on the development of the UK SORA.
The UK SORA is still in development; however, the CAA has provided some initial information.
UK SORA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) SORA
There may be some differences between the UK and EASA versions of SORA. These will be necessary to accommodate national requirements and will be laid out in the CAA’s consultation for the UK SORA.
UK SORA and international operations
Individual National Aviation Authorities (NAAs) will decide whether to recognise the UK SORA using their assessment of the SORA submitted by applicants. Some states may have different airspace requirements, technical requirements and national sensitivities that will need to be addressed between the applicant and the respective NAA on a case-by-case basis.
Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations in non-segregated airspace
The SORA is a tool that may enable BVLOS flights in non-segregated airspace. However, it is not intended as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for allowing full integration of all types of UAS into all airspace classes. The SORA indicates the type of performance goal(s) for airspace segregation/integration measures necessary to meet the target levels of safety for the given airspace volume.
Pre-defined risk assessments (PDRAs)
The current PDRA package being developed by the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) will be reviewed as part of the UK SORA project and if acceptable, the CAA will adopt them in the UK.
Recognised Assessment Entities (RAEs)
The impact of UK SORA on RAEs is being assessed as part of our implementation project.
There are current projects to look at the scope and tasks of RAEs. The CAA will inform all RAEs as soon as possible.
UK regulations
UK SORA will be used as an Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) to Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 2019/947 as retained (and amended in UK domestic law) under the European Union (Withdrawal Act 2018). SORA is not a regulation; it is a set of recommendations and guidelines for conducting a risk assessment and meeting required target levels of safety.
As SORA will be new AMC for Article 11 of UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947, regulatory change is not required to implement it.
Timelines
The CAA plans to have the UK SORA ready for consultation in Q1 2024. However, there are a number of dependencies that need to be addressed first. The CAA are planning to implement a UK SORA package in Q3/4 2024.
Implementation
The SORA implementation project is an extensive, comprehensive project which is considering all elements of how the UK will implement SORA. .
Training courses for UAS operators will be developed as part of the SORA project and we’ll provide more details on these when they’ve been confirmed.
Benefits of SORA and differences with the current risk assessment methodology
CAP 722A is primarily a qualitative methodology and SORA is a more quantitative methodology. SORA has been developed internationally with consensus from multiple NAAs and industry experts and it sets an acceptable target level of safety for proposed operations in the Specific category.
Valid Operational Authorisation (OA)
OAs which are valid when SORA is implemented will not be cancelled. They will remain valid for the period of validity stated on the authorisation.
The Operating Safety Case (OSC)
OSCs will need to be revised for SORA and there will be a transitional period to allow UAS operators to update them. Details of the transitional period will be communicated as part of the consultation process.
The current application process for flights in the Specific category may change, including application costs, and this will also be reviewed as part of the SORA implementation project. The CAA will run a further consultation on costs as part of their Scheme of Charges review.
Use of SORA elements
Applicants should not use elements of SORA when completing a Specific category application. Applications should be submitted using the methodology outlined in CAP 722A and mixing the methodologies is not recommended.
SORA is a complete risk assessment process based on detailed mathematical modelling. Applications involving a mixed methodology approach will increase the assessment time as the methodology will require evaluation to ensure it complies with Article 11 of UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947.
Use of SORA for planning an application
At this stage it is not possible to provide guidance on any specific details of the UK SORA. JARUS may still change elements of its SORA as reviews are ongoing and the details of the UK SORA is still being developed.
The CAA are focused on delivering UK SORA as soon as possible – ensuring it works for the UK and the UAS industry. Until the CAA releases further information, applicants should use the guidance in CAP 722A when conducting the Specific category risk assessment and when planning applications.
Date: 2nd March 2023
Location: on-line for non-members
Timings: 1-5pm
With the CAA General Aviation & RPAS Team attending, presenting & answering Questions too
Kevin Woolsey, co-head of the GA & RPAS Team, CAA
Mark Wharry, Safety & Oversight Senior Manager, GA & RPAS Team, CAA
Callum Holland, Transformation Manager, GA & RPAS Team, CAA
Other fantastic speakers & topics include:
Modernisation of UK airspace, delivering quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys, is long overdue. Today, the CAA is publishing a refreshed Airspace Modernisation Strategy, bringing it up to date and widening its scope, in particular:
Read the Airspace Modernisation Strategy
23 January 2023
The Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) is currently consulting on a future Specific Operating Risk Assessment (SORA), which enables operators to classify the risk posed by a drone being flown in the specific category and then identify mitigations and safety objectives.
The CAA is encouraging UK operators to respond to this consultation as they will use this work to build a specific SORA for operations in the UK.
The JARUS consultation is open until 6 March 2023 and can be completed online at JARUS External Consultation – “SORA Version 2.5 package”
23 January 2023
23 January 2023 – In the future the CAA will be introducing the Specific Operating Risk Assessment (SORA) for UK RPAS operations in the specific category.
This is a way to classify the risk posed by a RPAS and then identify mitigations and safety objectives. It allows the operator to identify operational limitations, and training objectives for the personnel involved (e.g. remote pilots, observers, maintainers), technical requirements for the drone and develop the appropriate operational procedures that will be part of the operator manual.
Rather than regulation, it is a set of recommendations and guidelines to conducting a risk assessment and meeting required target levels of safety for use in the specific category. When introduced it can be used as an acceptable means of compliance to article 11 of the UAS implementing regulations.
The CAA has been working within the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) for several years to develop this SORA.
JARUS is currently consulting (until 6 March 2023) on the latest version. You can reply to this consultation at JARUS External Consultation – “SORA Version 2.5 package” | JARUS (jarus-rpas.org). Any comments on this consultation need to be sent to JARUS directly, and not to the UK CAA.
As the current version is still being developed it isn’t yet available to UK operators to use as part of their Operational Authorisation. However, the CAA is encouraging UK operators to respond to JARUS as we will use this work to build the UK specific SORA. This consultation is being done so the UK CAA meets our regulatory requirements to consult on changes as covered under the Basic Regulation Article 115.
JARUS is an international group comprising of national authorities and industry experts working to develop a harmonised approach to RPAS operations around the world. The SORA has been widely recognised and adopted as an acceptable means of compliance around the world (including EASA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) to provide a robust safety case to competent authorities for RPAS operations in the Specific Category.
Its guidance material aims to allow each authority to write their own requirements and avoid duplication. Whether the UK’s future SORA will be recognised internationally will be down to individual National Aviation Authorities. Some nations may have different airspace requirements and national sensitivities that will need to be addressed between the applicant and the respective NAA on a case-by-case basis.
Once the JARUS consultation is complete, JARUS will publish the comment response document which we will publicise.
23 January 2023