Atypical Air Environment (AAE)

An Atypical Air Environment (AAE) is a volume of airspace that the CAA agrees is very rarely, or never, used by other aviation users. It is not a separate class of airspace; instead, it can exist within any class of airspace.

If you want to carry out Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations in the Specific Category, you may choose to propose an AAE when you apply for your authorisation.

Full guidance is in Operating within an Atypical Air Environment, CAP3239B

Watch our webinar on operating in an Atypical Air Environment.

Distances from structures and property

Operations that may be classified as being within an AAE may be:

• within 30m (100ft) of any building or structure
• within 15m (50ft) of a permanent, above ground level, linear structure, such as a railway, road, or power line
• at a height of up to 15m (50ft) within the boundary of a private property, such as an industrial site

Examples of operations in Atypical Air Environments

Examples of operations that may wish to use an AAE include:

• power line surveys
• wind turbine surveys
• property security inspections

How to apply to operate in an Atypical Air Environment (AAE)

In order to operate BVLOS within an AAE you must successfully apply for an Operational Authorisation from the CAA.

When you apply, you must provide details of your claim that your operations will be in an AAE.

There’s more information in Operating within an Atypical Air Environment, CAP3239B.

You must not carry out BVLOS operations in an Atypical Air Environment without holding an Operational Authorisation from the CAA.

What you must do every time you operate in an Atypical Air Environment (AAE)

An authorisation to operate BVLOS in an AAE will include a number of conditions.

Examples of conditions include:

• submitting a NOTAM of your intended flight
• co-ordinating with other airspace users who are local to your operations, for example: local helicopter emergency medical services; national police air services; model flying and gliding clubs; unlicensed airfields
• using an ADS-B transmitter and receiver or transceiver on 978 MHz/UAT
• when operating in controlled airspace, notifying the relevant Air Traffic Control (ATC) service provider before starting your operations, and comply with any conditions specified by the ATC unit
• using high-intensity anti-collision lighting
• using a technically robust containment solution to mitigate any breach of the operational volume

Most of these conditions will apply to every AAE operation, but you may propose alternatives.

Remote Pilots must:

• check NOTAMs before every flight
• ensure that any form of electronic conspicuity available on your aircraft is switched on and enabled

Always be aware that there may be other activity within Atypical Air Environments (AAEs)

You must always consider that:

• military services, emergency services, and infrastructure owners are all able to operate aircraft in areas that could be considered as      an AAE and can land without permission
• the general aviation community are able to operate from any suitable area of land, including unlicensed aerodromes, without       having to notify their activity or be electronically conspicuous

You must meet all other applicable rules and requirements

If you operate within an AAE, you must still meet all other applicable rules and requirements applying to unmanned aircraft operations within that airspace.