Page 13 - World Airnews Magazine October Edition 2020

DRONES

in many others should pave the way
there is simply a for regular delivery
complete lack of flights to equivalent

relevant legisla- regions. As these
ti on. regular services
It is understand- become more prev-
able that avia- alent and the reliabil-
tion regulators ity of the systems

may feel uneasy are demonstrated
to adopt and on a continual basis,

support the use one can expect de-
of such new, po- livery flights to more

tentially invasive densely populated
technology. The regions, and then

solution is for finally within busy air
the developers routes.
and operators Legislation should

to prove that be matured along-
it could be side these develop-
beneficial, safe ments and should be

and effective by A LIKELY WAY FORWARD simplified to allow

establishing confidence in the technol- unfettered unmanned cargo flight opera-

ogy over time. One potential solution As demonstrated by the small selection tions within reasonable timeframes, similar

to achieve the aforementioned is of examples highlighted here and the to that required for manned aviation.

to initially stick to intercity routes, many more reported on in the news on This should include the development of

and remain far from heavily-built-up an almost daily basis, the technology supporting processes and paperwork that

regions, and also stay clear of major of unmanned aviation will forge ahead. enable regular drone delivery services,

air routes. Deliveries of goods to city We will see more applications of smaller including task planning and filing of Flight

outskirts and along predefined air drones used for the delivery of emergency Plans.

routes (perhaps specifically designated supplies in isolated areas - probably

for unmanned flight operations) to over ever-increasing distances and on a CONCLUSION

test such concepts and help evalu- more regular basis - continuing the trend In conclusion, as the novel utilisations of

ate potential solutions would be far already set in some African countries, such drones keep on expanding and technology

easier to establish. This would also as Rwanda. Due to the legislative chal- races ahead to satisfy this demand, there

act as a confidence-building exercise, lenges, it is likely that these experiments is potential for an ever-increasing chasm to

leading to expansion of the operation- will initially be limited to areas that are grow between legislators and operators.

al envelope and exploration of more isolated enough to minimise the potential The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed

adventurous options. risks to people on the ground and the need for the rapid development and

• Acceptance by Society: The final other aircraft, or through, for example, deployment of cargo delivery drones,

obstacle that of acceptance by society establishment of publicised operational which will require regulatory support
is a very real barrier that can only corridors for these drones. to see this novel use of the technology

be overcome by continuous demon- Most of the more regular drone delivery become a regular, safe option. An incre-

stration of reliability and safety. Each services (where implemented) are still mental confidence-building development

incident involving UAVs, regardless of occurring over relatively short distances. and demonstration program will be the

whether it is the fault of the vehicle, However, it is likely that much longer dis- safest and most effective means to prove

operator or someone else, represents tances, such as delivery from the mainland to regulators and the general public that
a setback in this regard. to isolated islands, or between isolated the technology can be trusted and fielded

islands, or across large stretches of un- “within the real world”. Not only will this

populated areas such as deserts or arctic

One can expect that certain applications regions, could be demonstrated in the have to be done at a national level, but

may never (or only very far into the future) very near future. As these smaller demon- due to the potential international reach
reach general acceptance. For example, strations solve the technological problems of many future large cargo drones, there

no matter how safe unmanned aircraft around safety, reliability, communications, will have to be some measure of legislative

are shown to be, it is unlikely that future route planning, obstacle sensing and harmonisation to ensure that such aircraft
passengers will feel safe in an aircraft with avoidance, redundancy, automation, on- may operate cross-border and within

no pilot on board. board decision-making through artificial foreign airspace.

In other areas, acceptance is already intelligence, etc., and demonstrate that The development of new enabling tech-

here; as an example, the use of smaller such drones can be operated at equivalent nologies to make our world a safer, better

drones for photography, surveys and even safety levels to manned aircraft, one can and more effective place will continue and

last-mile medical deliveries have already expect an increase in the development cargo drones is but one such technological

gained significant acceptance in many and fielding of larger drones carrying advancement that has emerged from the

countries. heavier payloads over longer distances on wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Long

As the potential for disaster increases, a regular basis. after this debilitating period in our history

for example operations that may involve Legislative restrictions should start to has been forgotten, cargo drones will still

heavy unmanned cargo aircraft operating decrease as technology matures and re- be providing essential services delivering

into airports located in or near urban areas, lated operations are shown to be reliable freight, post, medical supplies and other

goods to every corner of the globe. This
more work will be required to demonstrate and repeatable. Initial drone deliveries

consistent safe operation to the point that to remote areas and over unpopulated is what we foresee; the technology is

such operations will be accepted by society regions, under strict oversight (operating already largely in place (or fast on track)

at large. within experimental drone flight classes), to support such an initiative with the firm

support from aviation regulators. Q
World Airnews | October 2020
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