James Willoughby
With its operational authorization in place, heliguy™ is poised to excel in BVLOS drone-in-a-box missions utilizing the DJI Dock ecosystem, while also catering to the needs of enterprise organizations seeking expert support for distant operations.
HeliGuy™ has secured operational authorisation to operate drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) in extraordinary atmospheric conditions.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) grants permission for heliguy’s pilots to execute remote, enclosed drone flights in unsegregated airspace under specific regulations.
The approval hinges on the successful completion of BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line Of Sight) flights at Komatsu’s Sensible Buildings facility in northern England.
Heliguy™ will utilise its expertise to deliver automated and remotely operated dock services to corporate clients, undertaking projects at specific locations within controlled access environments across the UK.
By leveraging this innovative service model, businesses can expedite the implementation of drone-in-a-box systems and capitalize on the benefits of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) data collection.
Every further location necessitates CAA permission and is subject to a comprehensive BVLOS implementation process conducted by heliguy™, encompassing website navigation, threat assessment, drone-in-a-box setup, and utilizing flight plans derived from 3D models compiled through VLOS flights.
Missions can be executed by heliGuy’s trained pilot team utilizing DJI FlightHub 2, accessible from both the Distant Operations Management Centre (ROCC) at heliGuy HQ or the mobile Drone Command Unit, equipped with LTE connectivity and Starlink coverage, allowing for seamless operations from any location.
The waiver enables unencumbered aerial imaging, cinematography, cartography, and self-governing flight operations to serve the demands of safety, land use assessments, infrastructure surveillance, emergency response, and product showcases/assessments.
After a year of meticulous preparation, heliguy’s multidisciplinary team – comprising regulatory specialists, training experts, surveyors, and in-box technicians – has finally brought the Operational Authorization to fruition.
Just two months following the regulatory body’s introduction of its innovative coverage for historic visible-line-of-sight flights within an Air-to-Air Environment (AAE).
The regulatory specialist at Heliguy, Graham Hegarty, prepared the BVLOS OSC (Notice of Intent) submission to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). He announced with excitement that they had secured approval to operate the DJI Dock’s innovative drone-in-a-box technology Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) in unconventional aerial environments?
By leveraging this capability, we can submit proposals to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for conducting Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) flights in support of enterprise clients on pre-approved online platforms within a defined Airspace Authorization Environment (AAE).
Organisations can thus optimise the benefits of drone-in-a-box deployments without requiring extensive expertise, thereby accelerating the value of remote operations, reducing customer risk, and enabling the collection of consistent data.
Organizations may also use this opportunity to acquire their own beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) permissions.
“HeliGuy aims to transition towards full autonomy following a successful period of monitored flights, with this initial clearance paving the way for future beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations.”
The DJI Dock 2 can be paired with either the DJI Matrice 200, a 3D surveying drone, or the Matrice 300RTK, featuring both visual and thermal sensing capabilities. The DJI Dock utilizes DJI M30 Series drones, including the M30T equipped with both visible and thermal cameras, as well as the M30 featuring a visible payload only.
To explore further opportunities and discover how Heliguy™ can assist with conducting Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations on behalf of your organization?
The term “atypical airspace atmosphere” might conjure up images of a strange and unpredictable aerial environment. In reality, an atypical airspace atmosphere refers to conditions that deviate from the norm in terms of temperature, humidity, wind direction, or other factors.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority defines an atypical air atmosphere as a region of airspace where operators can reasonably expect a reduced presence of conventionally piloted aircraft due to the proximity of ground infrastructure or buildings?
Given that most flights are conducted at relatively low altitudes, the risk of mid-air collisions is significantly reduced.
This may contain operations that include:
- Within 100 feet of any structure or construction area.
- Within 50 feet of an ever-lasting, above-floor-level, linear structure. Such infrastructure.
- On private premises, no higher than 50 feet in elevation. For instance, on an industrial website where safety professionals rely on Unmanned Aerial (UA) technology to conduct perimeter inspections with precision and efficiency.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has hailed the Automatic Airworthiness Evaluation (AAE) coverage as a significant milestone in the advancement of drone operations, paving the way for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) alternatives to be unlocked – primarily for routine operations akin to inspecting powerlines, sustaining wind turbines, or utilizing drones for website surveillance.
heliguy™ OSC Utility
To secure BVLOS approval, Heliguy’s OSC application featured a comprehensive suite of operational, strategic, and technical mitigation measures, carefully crafted to minimize risk to an extent deemed reasonable and practicable.
“Graham stated that we’ve employed a meticulous approach, incorporating data from manned aviation, robust procedural mitigations, experienced drone pilots, in-house dock engineers, and surveying specialists to inform our decision-making process.” The reliability and security features of DJI’s hardware and software have also played a crucial role.
The framework can be effectively replicated when collaborating with large-scale enterprises to implement a tailored OSC solution for site-specific beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations.
This ensures effective management of air and floor threats, leveraging expert knowledge to facilitate seamless airspace integration, confines drone operations within a defined envelope, and engages stakeholders in a collaborative process. A situation has arisen where it’s beneficial to utilize a 1090 MHz Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver when online.
Mitigations incorporate geofenced routes and buffer zones, leveraging the drone’s ADS-B receiver and bolstered by additional ADS-B expertise. They operate within a designated ceiling above the highest obstacle and notify relevant parties of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
BVLOS missions for enterprise customers can be conducted in secure environments, within a benign and controlled atypical operational setting. With minimal disruptions, the event can proceed with designated zones for participants and spectators to ensure a seamless experience.
Automated operations can be conducted under the watchful eye of a remote commander, ensuring seamless integration between human oversight and technological capabilities.
To ensure effective monitoring of floor threats, it may be necessary for each participating organization to have at least one dedicated representative present on site, outside of flight duties, to verify that the location is properly prepared and secured. Heliguy’s specialized coaching helps assemble on-site workforce teams.
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