UK CAA Detect And Avoid Consultation To 'Scale Up' BLVOS Drone Flights

• UK CAA launches consultation on a Detect and Avoid Policy, for plans to accelerate BVLOS drone operations;

• Document outlines key aspects and considerations for implementing Detect and Avoid;

• If approved, the plan will move ahead for testing, ahead of formal policy adoption to enable what the CAA describes as scaled up BVLOS operations.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) has opened a consultation on its proposed Detect and Avoid (DAA) Policy Concept - as part of work to enable 'scaled up' BVLOS drone operations.

The UK CAA says that DAA is a 'critical enabler' for BVLOS operations and the safe integration of drones into the wider airspace.

It is hoped that deciding a way forward will mitigate the risk of mid-air collisions, which the CAA describes as 'perhaps the most significant barrier to growth of this sector'.

The aim of the plan is to set out a policy concept on the assurance of DAA systems. The consultation and related documentation outlines comprehensive guidelines and requirements to ensure the safe integration of drones into UK airspace.

Key elements include the definition of DAA functions, interaction with standardised rules of the air, performance metrics, and detailed requirements for DAA systems across different Air Risk Classes.

Stakeholders are encouraged to consider the CAA's proposed policy concept and provide their views by the end of September 19, 2024. The online survey can be found here.

Once agreed, the DAA policy concept will be published, allowing industry feedback and testing via sandbox - ahead of formal policy adoption to enable what the CAA describes as scaled up BVLOS operations.

This is particularly pertinent for operators wanting to fully utilise drone solutions such as DJI Dock 2 or the DJI FlyCart 30.

Discussing the scope of DAA comes as part of the UK CAA's Airspace Modernisation Strategy, which describes the transition from the use of segregated airspace to integrated operations, supported by the use of Transponder Mandatory Zones. These zones are designated volumes of airspace which require aircraft to be appropriately equipped.

DAA Consultation: Key Takeaways 

Some of the key takeaways from the consultation document include:

• UK CAA says there is a strong industry demand for BVLOS operations.

• UK CAA says that for BVLOS missions which occur outside of segregated airspace, Detect and Avoid capabilities are required to replace a pilot's see-and-avoid capabilities.

• The DAA policy concept applies to all classes of airspace and categories of drones, with crewed aircraft the only hazard considered. Other hazards will be considered later.

• The DAA policy concept defines 'proportionate requirements' for tactical DAA-based mitigation.

• The proposal provides a structured model for determining Air Risk Class of BVLOS operations: From Residual ARC-a (collision risk negligible, DAA mitigation not required), through to Residual ARC-d (high severity consequences, highest level of tactical mitigation required).

• The document sets out a range of intended DAA functionality, including onboard/offboard sensing, local air-traffic displays, and collision avoidance functionality. 

• Considering levels of automation - from fully manual whereby the pilot receives the data and decides how best to respond, through to a fully automated response, whereby the system determines and executes the required action. 

• Defining alert levels and thresholds to ensure avoidance moves can be conducted in time. These are Caution Level Alerts - immediate pilot awareness and a subsequent response, or Warning Level Alerts - immediate pilot awareness and an immediate response.

 To read the document in full, click here.