New book promotes enhanced drone safety standards

• New book about drone safety standards influenced by the Level 5 Award for UAS Operations Managers, delivered by heliguy™;

• Geoff Bain, who co-wrote the course, has published Managing Safety In The Drone Industry - A Practical Guide;

• It covers safety management systems, human factors, and practical applications;

• The TQUK Level 5 Award - regulated by Ofqual - is held at heliguy™ HQ, and has been attended by organisations such as Network Rail, London Fire Brigade, and the Environment Agency.

A new book promoting enhanced safety standards in the UAS sector has been influenced by the heliguy™ TQUK Level 5 Award for UAS Operations Managers.

Aviation expert Geoff Bain has published Managing Safety In The Drone Industry - A Practical Guide.

It is designed to help drone operators and accountable managers develop robust practices to mitigate accident risk in the sector.

The book covers topics such as integrated safety management systems, human factors, leadership and management, and practical applications.

It features extracts from the heliguy™ Ofqual-regulated TQUK Level 5 training course - tailored to drone programme leaders to facilitate safe, compliant, and successful UAS operations.

The specialist course syllabus was co-written by Geoff in conjunction with heliguy™ Accountable Manager and Training Development Manager Mark Blaney, who also helped contribute to the book.

Geoff said: “The book is heavily influenced by the Level 5 Award course, which has been well received by candidates.

“The course highlights the most advanced aspects of the subject matter knowledge required to plan, execute, deliver, and monitor a professional drone operation.

“The book, which leverages aspects of the course content, provides an overview of drone safety and future trends the industry will face, and suggests practical guidelines for managing safety, particularly for those working in a safety-critical industry.”

Robust safety systems help to 'standardise practises and develop mitigation strategies'

Geoff has more than 55 years of aviation experience, which includes amassing in excess of 16,500 flying hours on 32 different types of aircraft, including Boeing 727 and Airbus A300 B4.

He believes the evolving and increasingly complex nature of drone operation requires UAS programmes to have robust safety and management structures in place.

Geoff said: “The drone industry is one of the most exciting and dynamic sectors in the modern world, growing and developing at an exponential pace, and it is predicted that operations will be required to adapt to more stringent regulations very similar to those currently mandated by aviation authorities.

“As such, drone operators should take advantage of the vast developments in Safety Management Systems and Human Factors within manned aviation. This will help to standardise practises, understand the threat of errors and predicted hazards, and develop mitigation strategies.”

Level 5 Award for UAS Operations Managers

While the book covers some topics featured during the Level 5 Award, it is not a substitute for the course, which is equivalent to a Foundation Degree.

The course includes five days of face-to-face learning and includes modules such as operational oversight, governance, hazard management, and risk mitigation.

It is delivered by Geoff and heliguy™ instructors in the dedicated training centre at heliguy™ HQ.

Organisations such as National Grid, Network Rail, London Fire Brigade, and the Environment Agency have completed the course.

Book your place at the next Level 5 course.

Purchase the book

Managing Safety In The Drone Industry - A Practical Guide has been published by CRC Press: A company that specialises in producing technical books, with many relating to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

To purchase a copy of Managing Safety in the Drone Industry: A Practical Guide visit the shop at www.dronesafetybooks.com and enter the promotion code HEL05 to receive a £5 discount