Atypical Air Environment
Drone operations conducted within an Atypical Air Environment (AAE) are made under conditions that enable a drone to fly in areas of airspace that are never/or only very occasionally used by other aviation users. These flights may include:
- Assessing the condition of UK power lines
- Determining whether a wind turbine needs maintenance
- Perimeter security inspections of national infrastructure
An AAE is not a separate airspace classification but can exist within any class of airspace. Operations within an AAE must adhere to all rules which apply to UAS within that airspace classification, including any applicable restrictions.
As part of our safety risk assessment for these operations, we have carried out extensive consultation and are satisfied that the safety mitigations proposed below reduce any risk of a mid-air collision to an acceptable tolerance.
Drone operations that will be classified as within an AAE will be constrained to:
- Within 30m (100ft) of any building or structure.
- Within 15m (50ft) of a permanent linear structure. For example, a railway, road, or powerline.
- Within the confines of private property at a height not exceeding 15m (50ft). For example, an industrial site where security personnel use a drone for perimeter inspection.
We are aware that military, emergency services and infrastructure owners all operate aircraft in close proximity to areas that could be considered as an AAE and can land without permission in the course of their tasking. The general aviation community may also operate from any suitable area of land across the UK, including unlicensed aerodromes, without the need to notify their activity or to be electronically conspicuous.
Before carrying out a AAE flight and only after a successful safety risk assessment approved by the CAA, drone operators will be required to:
- Submit a NOTAM of their intended flight
- Co-ordinate their activity with other users of airspace local to their operations – for example local helicopter emergency medical services, national police air services, model flying and gliding clubs as well as unlicensed airfields
- Be equipped with an ADS-B transmitter and receiver or transceiver utilising 978 MHz/UAT
- When operating in controlled airspace, to notify the relevant Air Traffic Control (ATC) service provider prior to conducting an operation and comply with any conditions specified by the ATC unit
- Be equipped with high intensity anti-collision lighting
These safety mitigations ensure the risk of a mid-air collision of a manned aircraft with a drone flying AAE operations remain extremely small, However, the CAA emphasises the responsibilities required by the pilot in command of any aircraft to check NOTAMs before every flight, as well as ensuring that if your aircraft is equipped with any form of electronic conspicuity it is turned on and enabled during flight. Our policy sets out more detail.
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