‘Above and Beyond’July 2019 –

Progress Review

16/07/2019 1

Project Goal

16/07/2019 2

To provide the UK energy distribution industry with a framework enabling ‘business as usual’ BVLOS drone inspections

Callen-Lenz

16/07/2019 3

• 40 Staff, 2 test sites, located near Salisbury

• Highly experienced staff (qualified test pilots, flight test engineers, operations and safety specialists)

• Pioneered UAS photogrammetry and wide area EVLOS survey in 2010

• Regular commercial BVLOS service operations since 2012 (segregated airspace)

• In-house safety critical software and electronics design, composites prototyping and development flight test services

• Regulatory, flight test and safety services and consultancy to manned and unmanned aviation

16/07/2019 4

The Project Team

4

DNOs (Distribution Network Operators)

GDNs (Gas Distribution Networks)

Project Delivery

Project Structure

16/07/2019 5

The project will be conducted in 8 stages - four main work streams repeated:

1) CONOPS

2) Safety Case

3) Flight Trials

4) Data Analysis

• Initial flight trials mid 2019 – TISA

• Trials in mid 2020 – TINA

• Operational planning tools

• Cost Modelling

04/07/2019 6

Project Workstreams

16/07/2019 7

Stage 1 - Complete

Stage 1 Objectives – Planning, CONOPS & Safety Case Development - TISA

Stage 1 of the project seeks to generate sufficient evidence in the form of a CONOPS Matrix

and Safety Case, to allow the CAA to issue an Exemption - TISA CONOPS A/B/C trials. The

specific objectives are as follows:

• Distil all RPAS Inspection Requirements into a single Concept of Operations (CONOPS)

Matrix covering TISA that is acceptable to both regulators and networks

• Generate Safety Case for TISA (i.e. build a body of evidence for satisfactory

performance of key technical systems e.g. robust communications link) that is

acceptable to regulators

• Obtain CAA Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO)/Exemption – TISA

• Liaise with CAA Airspace Regulation to agree requirements for Temporary Danger

Area(s) in support of TISA

Stage 2 - Complete

04/07/2019 8

Stage 2 Objectives – Trials BVLOS Inspection using RPAS - TISA

Stage 2 of the programme moves to practical trials of BVLOS RPAS for infrastructure

inspections in uncontrolled, segregated airspace. All CONOPS will be trialled and

evaluated in the real-world over representative distances; Volunteer sites from EIC

members are expected to be used. The specific objectives are as follows:

• Evaluate specific technologies and techniques for consideration in future BAU

CONOPS and safety case

• Conduct a meaningful scope of operations while inspecting energy distribution

network assets in a representative environment – (NOT a demonstration/stunt)

• Gather further real world inspection data and system performance/truth data for

assessment

Stage 2 – Test Objectives

04/07/2019 9

The trials have covered:

• Comms failsafe switching

• Satellite C2

• Mesh C2

• Cellular C2

• Direct height sensing

• Electronic conspicuity

• Mission sensors

• Mission profiles, planning etc

Technology Trials

04/07/2019 10

Stage 2 – Liaison & Integration

04/07/2019 11

Extensive prior consultation & real-time liaison

• Airports

• Police & Air Ambulance

• Military

• Local General Aviation

Aviators to aviators helps…

04/07/2019

12

Lincolnshire BVLOS

04/07/2019

13

Wales BVLOS

04/07/2019 14

Systems

Trials Completed• Engineering effort and local flight trials

• Chilmark

• Burcombe

• VLOS (BVLOS CONOPS Testing) Multi-rotor trials (UKPN) - March

• TISA: Lincolnshire (NPg) – April/May

• TISA: Wales (WWU) – June

• 640 minutes and 688km of BVLOS sorties

04/07/2019 15

TISA Trials Thanks• CAA UAS Team –support in application for Exemption

• CAA Airspace Team –support in application for TDAs

• Host Networks – support in providing requirements, selecting

suitable trials locations, compliance and facilitating ‘light-touch’

during trials

04/07/2019 16

• Develop safety cases for TINA in 2020 – Applied trials without segregated airspace

• Collaborate with CAA Future Airspace Team in Electronic Conspicuity Trials

• Utilise UTM/EC as technology and requirements develop

• Develop standardised requirements and supporting safety cases for Business as Usual Framework – Standardised & Approved Specific Category of Operations

Final thoughts for the next part of the BVLOS journey:

• Operators will need to have the appropriate organisational aviation competence and governance for BVLOS. This also helps enormously when planning the integration of trials and development activities with other aviation stakeholders. – Get the right staff –talk in aviation speak and understand the aviation environment.

04/07/2019

17

Next Steps