CASE STUDY
Project BLUEPRINT: Revolutionising the Future with Safe Drone Integration
BACKGROUND
Project BLUEPRINT is aligned with the Future of Flight Industry Group and is funded by the @UK Research and Innovation’s Future Flight Challenge; a £300 million programme aimed at catalysing innovation in the UK aviation sector. The project was a collaborative effort that brought together diverse expertise from ten partner companies, including renowned aerospace universities, traffic management providers, avionics and platform manufacturers, as well as drone operators.
THE CHALLENGE
Drones are becoming an integrated part of our lives, delivering vital medical supplies, monitoring air quality and critical infrastructure, revolutionising various industries and enabling opportunities to carry out tasks faster, safer, cheaper and with minimal environmental impact compared with more traditional methods. However, there are several challenges that need to be addressed for the seamless integration of drones, in line with the CAA/DfT Future of Flight Action Plan, including:
• the development of a regulatory framework for stakeholders to operate safely and effectively, which includes guidance and support surrounding technology, systems and supporting infrastructure.
• Addressing public safety and security concerns about the use of drones, particularly in urban environments.
The “Project BLUEPRINT” consortium was formed to provide the industry with a set of ‘blueprints’ to facilitate the successful integration of drones and crewed aircraft into the same airspace. This would be achieved through the introduction of designated “Drone Zones”, designed to define how drones can operate safely and efficiently in a shared airspace.
These new “drone zones” would replace the existing practice of using temporary and segregated volumes of airspace for drone operations and contribute to scaling “beyond visual line of sight” operations beyond segregated airspace, facilitating a new era of commercial drone usage that altogether benefits businesses, consumers, and society.
OUR SOLUTION
Our team leveraged their expertise in aviation safety to create a safety assurance argument that is aligned with the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) methodology to guide regulation and standards. Working collaboratively with all project stakeholders, including the CAA and consortium members, we contributed our deep understanding of aviation safety to help shape the regulatory framework and operational guidelines for drones in a shared airspace.
Our aim is to ensure that the integration of drones into shared airspace is not only technologically feasible but will also meet the highest standards of safety and security. Our contribution was essential in establishing the necessary protocols, operational procedures, and risk mitigation strategies to enable the safe and scalable integration of drones across the UK.
THE BENEFIT
With the seamless integration of drones into everyday life, critical medical supplies will be swiftly and efficiently delivered to remote areas, search and rescue operations will be significantly enhanced, whilst real-time air quality monitoring will provide invaluable insights for environmental management. These are but a few of the advancements that have the potential to save lives, optimise logistics, and create new avenues for growth and innovation in the UK and globally.
The aim of Project BLUEPRINT is to support the expansion of “Drone Zones” and ultimately lead to a situation where shared airspace becomes “business as usual” across the United Kingdom. Valuable insights and data derived from trials and demonstrations will inform regulators and industry stakeholders worldwide, guiding the seamless integration of drones into a shared airspace.
We are committed to advancing aviation safety and supporting the innovative use of drone technology. Our collaboration with other industry leaders within the Project BLUEPRINT consortium has contributed to the development of best practices and regulatory frameworks that will benefit not only the UK but also serve as a model for other countries aiming to integrate drones into their airspace.