The Department
for Transport (DfT) has made available funding to encourage the adoption of
Electronic Conspicuity (EC) within the UK’s General Aviation (GA) and Unmanned Aircraft
Systems (UAS) communities. The CAA is distributing
these funds via a rebate scheme.
The scheme will
open to applications from the 5 October 2020 until 31 March 2021
(or until the funding is used). Those meeting the requirements can claim a 50%
rebate of the purchase cost of an EC device to a maximum of £250.00 (including
VAT), per applicant. We anticipate up to 10,000 rebates will be available.
What are the requirements to apply?
-
Funding is for carry-on or
aircraft-fitted devices only. Ground system components do not qualify for
this scheme.
- Applicants can claim a single rebate of
50% - up to £250 - on EC equipment purchased.
- Only equipment purchased from 1st
October 2020 until 28 February 2021 will be eligible for rebate.
- You must produce a proof of purchase
receipt.
- You must
hold at least one of the following UK issued pilot licences (UK or EASA
part FCL):
-
Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL)
- Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL)
- National PPL (NPPL)
- Sailplane Pilot’s Licence (SPL)
- Balloon Pilot’s Licence (BPL)
- Light Aircraft Pilot’s Licence (LAPL)
Or be a registered member of the British Gliding
Association (BGA), or a member of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding
Association (BHPA) holding a current 'Pilot' rating.
-
Alternatively, if you are UAS/UAV
operator then you must hold an authorisation issued specifically to them
by the CAA (i.e. a permission, exemption or “operational authorisation”). General Exemptions,
permissions or authorisations which are aimed at a wider and non specific group
of operators are not included
What
equipment is in scope of this rebate scheme?
We recognise that there are a range of EC solutions on the market that
manufacturers and communities have developed for their own needs.
The main equipment able to be
used on an aircraft for EC purposes currently available (and that a refund can
be claimed against) includes:
- ADS-B Out capable transponder inclusive of GNSS
position source (Mode S ES Enabled).
- ADS-B Out capable transponder without GNSS position
source (Mode S ES)
- Certified GNSS source for Mode S ES transponders
(Including a GNSS position sources in line with the recently published AIC2019Y141,
example being Trig TN72)
- FLARM
- Power FLARM
- Pilot Aware Rosetta
- Sky Echo 2
We will
consider requests from device manufacturers for alternative
or newly developed equipment to be added on a case by case basis.
What do
I need to consider before purchasing and using EC equipment?
‘See and avoid’ is the foundation for Visual Flight Rules flying in
the UK. EC devices can improve
situational awareness for pilots but do not replace the fundamental role of ‘see
and avoid’. Pilots
using EC devices should be aware of their functionality and what they can, and
cannot, do. Devices are not always interoperable with each
other. This means that users of one type
of device may or may not be electronically visible to each other, may have
different standards of reliability and accuracy, and may use different parts of
the radio spectrum for transmitting signals.
The DfT and CAA are not recommending any specific device to pilots but
do recommend that all pilots understand and consider the functional benefits,
and limitations, of any EC device so they make informed decisions on the level
of reliance that can be placed on the information provided to them.
While not a definitive list the table below describes the currently
most used EC technologies, a high-level understanding of the interoperability
between them and which are certified.
|
Conspicuity beacons
|
Which traffic receivers can see them?
|
|
|
ADS-B-in devices (certified)
|
ADS-B in Rx
|
Airborne Collision Awareness Systems (ACAS)
|
Pilot Aware
Rosetta
(PAW)
|
Power FLARM
|
Sky Echo 2 (SIL-1 Device) CAA CAP 1391 approved
|
|
|
ADS-B Out transponder certified GPS
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
ADS-B out transponder uncertified GPS (Surveillance Integrity Level
(SIL) 0)
|
No*2
|
Variable*4
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Power FLARM
|
No |
No |
No |
Yes*1
|
Yes |
Yes*3
|
|
|
Pilot Aware Rosetta
(PAW)
|
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
|
Sky Echo 2 (SIL-1 Device) CAA CAP 1391 approved
|
Yes |
Variable*4
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
*1) Dependent on
proximity to ground infrastructure
|
|
*2) Certified Traffic
receivers normally exclude reports from transponders & beacons set to SIL
0
|
|
*3) New development
requires a FLARM decode licence and a suitable display
|
|
*4) Transponders or
beacons with a non-certified GPS (source integrity level 0) may not be
detected by a certified ADS-B in device. Source integrity level 1 and above
can be seen.
|
|
In the above table, the
term certified means a device that has been tested for meeting ICAO standards
and operates in the aviation spectrum.
|
In parallel to the grant scheme, work will continue on a long-term
strategy for EC in the UK. Surveillance technology will
continue to develop quickly and, together with the DfT, we are open to
exploring and embracing new technologies.
Applicants should be aware that in common with other technologies in any
sector, any device purchased today is not necessarily guaranteed to meet any
future EC requirements.
How to
apply
Please login or register for an account on the CAA online
customer portal. This is a one-off process so if you have already
registered you can log in using your existing account.
If you are registering for a new account, then you will need
to wait for an email from us confirming your account is live. Please see our
guidance on the customer portal for more information.
Once logged in to your account on the portal you can
complete the EC rebate online application form where you will be asked to
supply details and evidence of your purchase.
Following the
completion of your application form you will have the option to either download
a copy of your application form to your device or receive an email copy for
your records.
Please note: the current turnaround time for
receiving your Electronic Conspicuity Rebate (including Portal registration) is
up to 30 working days. To help us process the large number of applications we
kindly ask that once you have successfully completed the application form you
do not contact the team to chase your application until the 30 days is up.
For all enquiries please contact us on ECRebate@caa.co.uk
What is Electronic Conspicuity?
Electronic Conspicuity
(EC) is an umbrella term for the technology that can help pilots, unmanned
aircraft users and air traffic services be more aware of what is operating in surrounding
airspace. EC includes the devices fitted to aircraft and unmanned systems that
send out the information, and the supporting infrastructure to help them work
together. Airborne transponders, air
traffic data displays, ground-based antennas and satellite surveillance
services are all examples of EC. The
information generated by these can be presented to pilots and air traffic
services visually, audibly or both to provide them with information on other
traffic nearby. This strengthens the
principle of ‘see and avoid’ by adding the ability to ‘detect and be detected’.
To be most effective it needs 100% of
users operating in a designated block of airspace using compatible EC devices,
and be able to be detected by others.
EC can play a vital role in three key areas to support the UK’s
Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS):
1.
Enabling the on-going modernisation of the UK’s
airspace structure and route network.
2.
Helping to mitigate the risk of mid-air collisions in Class G, and
infringements into controlled airspace.
3.
Enabling the safe and efficient integration of unmanned aircraft.
More
information:
Airspace
Modernisation Strategy
Information on EC devices www.caa.co.uk/cap1391
AIC2019Y141
: the
steps that can be made to enable ‘ADS-B out’ throughout the General Aviation
fleet to reflect recent changes and developments from EASA
Information for devices falling under CAP1391: