The growth in the use of drones has a number of potential implications for VFR flight. Drones are also know by their more official name of Unmanned Aircraft Systems or UAS.
The Package of Change in the FAS VFR Implementation Programme (FASVIP) related to UAS is ATA.7 UAS Policy Compatible with VFR Operations
Therein it says “FASVIG would engage with UAS policy making activities to represent the interests of the VFR community and engage with the UAS community to seek to improve mutual understanding.”
To this end, already, FASVIG :
- has attended the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Conference and Workshop run by KTN in association with ARPAS-UK
- has been monitoring UAS developments associated with policy, airspace and technology.
- has published via the FASVIG website UAS-related information of interest to the VFR community
- has established links with the CAA UAS Programme Lead and agreed to cooperate on FASVIP ATA.7
- has established links with a UAS ‘National Qualified Entity’ training organisation and agreed to cooperate on FASVIP ATA.7
- has established links with ARPAS-UK (*) and agreed to cooperate on FASVIP ATA.7
- is a member of the CAA Conspicuity Working Group,
the remit of which, relative to the previous Electronic Conspicuity Working Group, has been expanded to incorporate UAS.
FASVIG will continue and further develop this engagement to help ensure UAS policy is compatible with VFR operations and improve mutual understanding between the UAS and VFR communities.
Information on operating UAS is available on the CAA website here: www.caa.co.uk/uas