There is currently a strong industry demand for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operation of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) within the UK, and while forecast estimates vary, they consistently show a large increase in the sector over the next 10+ years. Perhaps the most significant barrier to the growth of this sector is the mid-air collision risk associated with Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s vision for the BVLOS RPAS operation within the UK is set out in the Airspace Modernisation Strategy, which describes a transition from the use of segregated airspace to integrated operations, supported by the use of Transponder Mandatory Zones (TMZs). In support of this vision, we have consulted on our proposed policy concept for the assurance of Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems.
The consultation proposed requirements for DAA systems, including their reliability, data integrity, availability and performance. It also put forward proposals for the assurance and oversight of DAA systems, including the metrics used for performance assessment.
The DAA consultation closed on 19th September 2024. We aim to publish a policy document confirming the new policy on Detect and Avoid and the date that it will come into force by early 2026.