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Regulatory challenges for innovation in aviation

Guidance for innovators on addressing regulatory challenges and trialling your solution

  • Innovation regulatory challengesA Challenge provides you with a pathway to seek approval for the trial of your innovative solution, and shape the requirements for future regulations. You can apply to our Challenges, or alternatively propose your own Challenge.

    The Regulatory Sandbox 

    You have developed concepts and conducted research for your novel solution.

    You have tested and proved its feasibility in a controlled environment. Now, you want to conduct trials under real-world conditions. But, you are unable to get regulatory approval because your solution does not fit within the scope of current regulations. 

    Innovative solutions come with many questions in terms of safety, security, and consumer protection. Challenges are designed to answer these questions.
    The Regulatory Sandbox provides you with the capability to test and trial your innovative solutions in a safe environment. You will work in partnership with us to explore the viability of your solution. In doing so, you will help us to define the requirements that will guide the approval you need for your trial. You will also help us to shape the future regulations that will support the commercial operations of your innovative solution.

    Respond to Challenges

    Future Air Mobility: Regulatory Sandbox Challenge 

    What are the requirements for the approval of Future Air Mobility operations? How can the development of related innovations be supported through testing and trials to inform regulatory frameworks that will enable commercial operations? 

    Future air mobility propositions involving novel ways of transporting passengers, goods or services from A-B – for example Urban Air Mobility (UAM) concepts – have continued to develop. This has been driven by large-scale investments in new aircraft designs, research into future urban mobility and integrated transport networks, and commercial partnerships between equipment and technology firms in aviation. The range of use cases is also expanding; from airport shuttles and on-demand inter-city services to regional, intra-city and rural services. Whilst existing aviation regulations can enable the exploration and trialling of innovative future air mobility solutions, they do not yet enable commercial operations or fully provide a scalable, proven certification approach.  

    We recognise there is a role for the CAA to play in addition to this work. Specifically, in identifying and supporting answers to regulatory challenges and working alongside Government, industry and public stakeholders. 

  • Future Air Mobility Challenge

    We are inviting organisations to join our regulatory Sandbox to explore with us the requirements for the approval of Future Air Mobility operations.

    You are developing a novel solution for Future Air Mobility, and you want to conduct trials, and progress towards small scale commercial operations. You are unable, however, to get regulatory approval because your solution does not fit within the existing scope of regulations.  

    The Regulatory Sandbox provides a pathway to seek approval for the trial of your solutions and enables you to inform the regulatory frameworks that will enable commercial operations.  

    If this sounds intriguing and something you'd like to get involved with, then here's how to get started on the Future Air Mobility Challenge:  

    • Step 1: Review the sandbox brief and the selection criteria 
    • Step 2: Complete our online submission form. Don't forget to include your proposed concept of operations (ConOps) for your trial 
    • Step 3: We will review your application and contact you to discuss next steps 

    Please refer to the ConOps guidance when completing your application. 

    The call is open to individual organisations or consortia that are developing equipment, infrastructure, vehicles, air navigation services, new business models, and any other solutions that will enable Future Air Mobility operations. 

  • Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) in Non-Segregated Airspace: Regulatory Sandbox Challenge

  • Beyond Visual Line of Sight: Non-Segregated Airspace

    What are the requirements for safe Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in non-segregated airspace?

    The range of use cases for UAS is growing, from drone deliveries, through search & rescue operations, to the inspection of assets and infrastructure. That said, gaining regulatory approval for BVLOS operations of UAS in non-segregated airspace remains a challenge.

    We know that many regulatory questions must be answered to enable the development of appropriate regulation with associated approval mechanisms.

    We are looking for innovation partners willing to work with us to explore the viability of their solutions for BVLOS operations in non-segregated airspace.

    If this sounds intriguing and something you'd like to get involved with, then here's how to get started on the BVLOS Challenge:

    • Step 1: Review the sandbox brief and the selection criteria
    • Step 2: Complete our online submission form. Don't forget to include your proposed concept of operations (ConOps) for the trial
    • Step 3: We will review your application and contact you to discuss next steps

     Please refer to the ConOps guidance when completing your application.