Securing a safety case to enable farmers to successfully use drones in UK agriculture
Introduction
In agriculture, drones are increasingly replacing tractors for spraying and spreading anything from seeds and water to biostimulants and fertiliser applications. Amongst many reasons, drones are environmentally friendly and help reduce CO2 emissions; they can be used all-year round and cover great distances; they increase application speed and productivity; they avoid crop damage; and they are hyper efficient in areas like cover cropping (pushing plants aside and planting necessary seeds once a crop has finished).
In order for all this great work to happen, approval is needed by the CAA, which is where we come in - helping companies with the necessary paperwork and guidance.
Challenge
SAS Land Services works with local farms - from small livestock farms to large arable and dairy units - providing drone services. These include drone based spreading and spraying of seeds and fertilisers; multispectral drone mapping; aerial photography; and agricultural drone training.
For their drone based spreading and spraying service, where articles are being dropped for agricultural purposes, SAS Land Services required the use of a drone that weighed 110kg. For any drone weighing more than 25kg, the CAA requires a safety case in order to obtain the necessary operational authorisation (OA) to conduct these aerial operations.
Solution
Ajuno has extensive experience in obtaining OAs.
Our approach for Lumina consisted of four key work packages:
1. Capability Management & Expansion
Conducting an assessment of three key leading Flight Management Systems for use by Lumina, in order to ensure safe distances from crowds and mitigating all risk during all drone light shows.
2. ORA Submission
Developing an CAP722A V2 / CAP722E compliant operating safety case, with supporting compliance document, for submission to the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
3. CAA Oversight
Supporting Lumina to work through the CAA’s oversight requirements, which included reviewing oversight reports and making required amendments. Additionally providing on-site support for demonstration flights to the CAA.
4. Ongoing Project Management
Supplying project management throughout all phases of the project by one of our experienced programme managers.
The impact
Securing the OA allowed Lumina to safely carry out their drone entertainment shows to vast crowds, in a number of varied locations throughout the UK, including racecourses, stadiums and cricket grounds. Lumina is currently one of only nine companies in the UK to be able to offer this style of entertainment.
At Ajuno, we are continually leveraging our partner network to support companies in obtaining the required regulatory waivers to operate across the world.
