Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

UAS, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), Drones – despite the varying names there is no doubting the potential of these systems.   The number of UAS in use and their capabilities is growing rapidly; from aerial filming, parcel delivery, agricultural survey, emergency response, defence, rail line and wind turbine inspections.

The ultimate aim is to safely integrate UAS into the total aviation system without any increased hazard to other airspace users.  In achieving this objective an incremental approach must be taken whilst remaining agile to any regulatory or standards development in this fast moving environment.

Despite the proliferation of Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) systems there is now a real ambition to push the technology and regulatory boundaries to operate in a Beyond VLOS (BVLOS) environment.  Societal and safety concerns & risks need to be completely understood and managed in a controlled manner.

At Osprey, we are highly experienced in both civil and military UAS/RPAS operations, and can support you in the following areas:

• Develop strategic frameworks for the introduction of UAS
• Feasibility and Options Study – to identify the issues associated with UAS/RPAS operations and explore feasible solutions and propose strategies to achieve compliant and successful operations.

• Regulatory Gap Analysis – to define the approach to be taken in terms of the emerging Open, Specific and Certified categories under the proposed EASA regulatory approach.
• Under the EASA Concept of Operations approach for UAS we can provide support in assessing and compiling the safety case under the proposed specific category.

• Operating Safety Case (OSC) Preparation – development of the OSC to provide robust Safety Arguments to demonstrate that any risks have been understood and effectively mitigated in all proposed operational environments (such as collision avoidance).
• Development of military RPAS safety and certification arguments.

• Regulatory Compliance and Advice – our policy specialists have developed international (through membership of JARUS) and national civil regulations, policy and requirements for the emerging UAS market (including the UK ANO and CAP 722). We can advise on current and emerging regulations and guidance, and assist in engagement with the regulatory bodies.

• Trials – management of operational UAS/RPAS trials and the development of cutting-edge capabilities.

• Training – our team have experience of specialist course design and delivery including evaluation and assessment. We regularly develop bespoke courses on topics ranging from Safety Management and Safety Assurance to Air Traffic Management and UAS/RPAS operations and integration.