A blueprint for effective integration of drones with crewed aviation into unsegregated airspace?
Airspace is a critical piece of infrastructure requiring modernisation to accommodate a new generation of crewed and uncrewed aerial vehicles. As part of a pioneering project, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), supported by Egis, have proposed an airspace design and operational concept that would allow drones to be integrated in an operational trial alongside crewed aircraft in uncontrolled airspace in the Orkney Islands. If successful, the trial will provide a blueprint that could be rolled out more widely across Scotland and the UK. Egis’ Richard Derrett-Smith and HIAL’s Pat Nolan explain more.
Outside of major conurbations and airports, as much as 70% of the UK’s airspace is uncontrolled, meaning that anybody can fly there, subject to some basic rules. This contrasts with controlled airspace, which is managed by air traffic controllers, with rules and communication protocols to keep airspace users safely separated. The problem is that the existing airspace structures and associated Air Traffic Service regulation for both controlled and uncontrolled aviation cannot currently accommodate the needs of all types of aircraft, including one of the fastest growing user groups: drones.
In Scotland’s Orkney Islands, uncrewed medium and heavy lift drones (100 - 300 kg) are already being used for fast collection and delivery of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and perishable goods, like shellfish – which are transported from outlying islands back to a hub airport at Kirkwall and then flown onward to places like London in a fraction of the time it would take for them to travel by ferry. However, to date, these trials have all taken place using Temporary Danger Areas (TDAs) which restrict other airspace user activity and are not sustainable for commercial operations. The objective of this project is therefore to develop a trial airspace test zone based on a more permanent, less restrictive form of airspace, where future sustainable aviation technology and use cases can be demonstrated.
HIAL’s Pat Nolan has been working with Egis’ Richard Derrett-Smith and Stewart Wallace on developing the Trial Orkney Test Zone or TOTZ. This pioneering project is part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) and is part funded by the UK government through the UK Future Flight Challenge programme. HIAL is both an airport operator (with 11 regional airports) and an Air Navigation Service Provider, and so it plays a vital role in supporting essential lifeline services, connectivity and socio-economic development within the rural and island communities. Pat says: “Our aim is to establish the UK’s first low carbon sustainable aviation test centre, including a dedicated airspace test zone, to be located at a commercial airport.” Using Kirkwall Airport as its base, the test zone has been designed to minimise the impact on Kirkwall airport’s operations. Kirkwall is a licensed commercial airport that provides services for approximately 12,000 aircraft movements carrying 130,000 passengers per year, the majority of which by Loganair the airport’s principal operator. Kirkwall airport, which provides an aerodrome and procedural approach service, is located in Class G airspace and has a suite of both conventional and RNP instrument approach procedures.
