The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has released its amended CAP 3040 “Unmanned Aircraft Operations in an Atypical Air Environment: Policy Concept”.
According to the CAA: “This document presents the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) current position on the requirements applicable to organisations wishing to operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in an Atypical Air Environment (AAE). As technologies mature and operations commence, our collective understanding will grow which will inform the CAA’s work to better enable BVLOS activities in the future. In the meantime, the CAA has developed this policy concept as interim guidance to allow stakeholders to proceed with planning operations in line with the CAA’s thinking.”
In the document the CAA has more clearly defined what an AAE is and how it can be used to reduce mid air collisions within a UK Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA)/ Operational Risk Assessment (ORA); it also provides more clarity on ground risk mitigation.
“There is no single definition for an AAE however, it can be considered as a volume of airspace within which it can be reasonably anticipated that there will be a greatly reduced number of conventionally piloted aircraft due to the close proximity of specific ground infrastructure,” said the CAA. “An AAE is not a separate airspace classification but can exist within any class of airspace. Operations within an AAE must adhere to all rules which apply to UAS within that airspace classification, including any applicable restrictions. The following examples of what may be considered an AAE are to be used as a guide.
- Within 100ft of any building or structure.
- Within 50ft of a permanent, above ground level, linear structure. For example, a railway, road, or powerline.
- Within the confines of private property at a height not exceeding 50ft.
For example, an industrial site where security personnel use a UA for perimeter inspection.”
For more information
https://www.caa.co.uk/publication/download/26413
