CAA On Air

In the third and final part of this series we look at how medical deliveries by drone could help support the health service in remote communities across the UK. We speak with Alex Brown, Head of Operations at Skyports about a recent trial that saw drones making medical deliveries between four NHS hospitals in the Scottish Highlands. This project, which reduced the average transport time from 20 hours to 1 hour, involved drones carrying cargo including COVID-19 tests, pathology samples and medicine while flying up to 60kms beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). You can find more information about this work at: https://skyports.net/nhs-trials/ and https://www.caa.co.uk/innovation

In part two of our three part series we hear about a recent trial that explored using drones for medical deliveries, including essential PPE items, from Cornwall to remote communities on the Isles of Scilly. This project involved Royal Mail and a consortium funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) who we featured in the first part of this series. We speak with Chris Paxton from the Royal Mail, Gareth Whatmore, CEO of Droneprep which led the consortium and Alex Brown from Skyports about the trial, its achievements and what is coming next. You can find out more by visiting https://www.royalmailgroup.com/en/press-centre/press-releases/royal-mail-group/scillies-drones-trial/ https://vimeo.com/547372795 https://droneprep.uk/news/droneprep-and-royal-mail-drone-delivery-to-the-scilly-isles/ The CAA Innovation Hub http://www.caa.co.uk/innovation

In this episode we begin a three part series that looks at how drones have been used to help the NHS response to COVID-19. We're joined by Simon Masters and Dawn MacGregor from UKRI (UK Research and Innovation), the UK's largest public funder of research and innovation. UKRI's work includes the 'Future flight challenge' which aims to bring together technologies in electrification, aviation systems and autonomy to create new modes of air travel and capability. Some of the projects funded by the 'Future flight challenge' so far have included using drones to support the NHS and emergency services during the COVID-19 pandemic. You'll hear about how these projects were selected, the benefits they can deliver and how the CAA's Innovation team helped support this work. You can find our more about UKRI and the 'Future flight challenge' below https://www.ukri.org/our-work/our-main-funds/industrial-strategy-challenge-fund/future-of-mobility/future-flight-challenge/ UKRI Future flight vision roadmap https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/UKRI-130821-FutureFlightVisionRoadmap.pdf For information about projects focussing on the demonstration aspects of novel classes of electric or autonomous air vehicles and systems see: Future flight challenge phase three: strand one https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/future-flight-challenge-phase-three-strand-one/ For information about projects focussing on developing enabling technologies and cross-cutting systems that support the deployment of these novel air vehicles in UK airspace see: Future flight challenge phase three: strand two https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/980/overview

Electric air taxis, also called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), will soon be operational. These ‘green' aircraft will deliver on-demand urban flights and make trips across cities quick, easy and more affordable. In this episode, Jonathan and Nathan from the CAA's Communications team speak with Brenden Hedblom and David Rottblatt from Eve Air Mobility about the work that is taking place to support the growth of urban air mobility (UAM) in the UK. Eve Air Mobility is leading a consortium of world leading aviation organisations that is working with the UK CAA to define the airspace design, procedures and infrastructure required for safely integrating new types of electric air taxi operations into the UK's low level airspace. More about this work EmbraerX – Urban Air Traffic Management concept video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSkyvOV5Mcw&t=5s UK Air Mobility Website - https://ukairmobility.com/ Flight Plan 2030 https://daflwcl3bnxyt.cloudfront.net/m/72d6ed98a71cb43f/original/200702_AF_EMBX_White_Paper_DM.pdf UATM Concept of Operations, co-written with Airservices Australia https://daflwcl3bnxyt.cloudfront.net/m/3dc1907d3388ff52/original/PPJ016561-UATM-Concept-of-Operations-Design_D11-FINAL.pdf The UK CAA's Innovation Hub https://www.caa.co.uk/innovation

Angela and Sonia from our Innovation team discuss how we're working with innovators to look at the different concepts people are working on for future air mobility. That includes everything from the aircraft being developed to the systems that will support them. This builds up to our exciting Future Air Mobility sandbox announcements that are coming soon. You'll find more information about our work on future air mobility on our website https://www.caa.co.uk/innovation

Jonathan Nicholson and David Pratt talk Threat and Error Management with Amy Breckell and Neil Winbolt from the CAA's General Aviation unit. Links to more TEM information: CAA: Flight-crew human factors handbook (CAP737) - https://www.caa.co.uk/CAP737 Airspace & Safety Initiative: Avoiding airspace infringements using Threat & Error Management - https://airspacesafety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ASI-TEM.pdf

The concept of Unmanned Traffic Management, or UTM, has been developing over the last few years and sets out how unmanned vehicles can be safely integrated into the wider airspace system. This podcast gives an update on the UK's work in this area and the scale and breadth of impact that the integration of UAS into UK airspace could have across the whole aviation system. For more information on Unmanned Traffic Management see https://www.caa.co.uk/cap1868 Our thanks to NATS and Connected Places Catapult for contributing to this podcast. You can find out more about NATS by visiting https://www.nats.aero/ For more information on Connected Places Catapult’s work around UTM please visit their website and read the latest report here: https://cp.catapult.org.uk/2020/05/22/enabling-unmanned-traffic-management-in-the-uk-report-launched/ You can also watch the recent UTM webinar on this report here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6IxjSUGwYo

Jonathan Nicholson and David Pratt talk to Hannah Foskett and Neil Winbolt from the CAA's General Aviation unit about about how to prepare to return to the air after a longer than usual break from recreational flying. More information from the CAA at www.caa.co.uk/CAP1919 and www.caa.co.uk/CAP1925

The innovation sector will play a key role for the aviation industry when the time comes for the recovery from COVID-19 to commence In our latest podcast, our innovation team discuss how vital social licences are, particularly for new innovative industries

CAA Assistant Director Jonathan Nicholson speaks to Tony Rapson and Geoffrey Podger, authors of a new independent safety review commissioned and funded by the Department for Transport. Their review assesses the current level of risk to private pilots, their passengers and third parties of recreational flying in the UK.

On Air is a monthly podcast from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority featuring experts from across the aviation industry. Each month, you’ll hear how our Innovation team is working with organisations to support new aviation related products and services. We’ll also bring you interviews and updates relating to drones and recreational flying. About this episode In Episode 1 CAA Assistant Director Jonathan Nicholson speaks to Innovation Strategy Lead David Tait to find out how his team is working with organisations to support innovations and new products coming to the UK aviation market. We also hear from Rachel Gardner-Poole, Head of the General Aviation Unit about how the CAA is working with organisations like the British Microlight Aircraft Association to delegate licensing and approval responsibilities where appropriate. In the final section of this episode, UAS Sector Lead Andy Hamilton explains how drone users can stay up to date with the latest safety guidance.