UAVS News
Archive Date Line: 7 July 2010
News Line: Latest UAVS Student Member
George Bedford, a first year PhD (MPhil) student at Loughborough University, looking at the interaction of operator and GCS/Simulator and how this interaction can be compared to the existing manned MECs and the MECs component parts. His reason for joining UAVS is to help broadan his understanding in the UAS field as well as making contacts who may be able to further his research through both information and equipment. Date Line: 28 June 2010
News Line: UAVS on stand at Farnborough 2010
Farnborough International Airshow isn't one of the national or international aerospace events UAVS normally attends as UAS have not featured prominently in the past.
This year however UAVS has been given the opportunity to support its members, European UAV Systems Centre Ltd and Kiln Group on the UAS Flying stand at Stand D19, Hall 3. UAVS will be taking part in the free drop-in advice clinic between 12 noon and 4 pm on three days of the Show: Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd July. For more details on what is on and available at Stand 19 go to the UAS Member News column on the right. Date Line: 24 June 2010
News Line: Cinch Connectors registers with UAVS
Cinch Connectors has registered as a new member with UAVS. Its product offering of lightweight, tailor-made connectors are ideal for the UAS industry. Date Line: 21 June 2010
News Line: University of Southampton registers with UAVS
University of Southampton has registered with UAVS as a new academic member. The University will be actively engaged in ASTRAEA and membership of UAVS is seen as an extension of its networking with the UAS industry. Date Line: 7 June2010
News Line: Dr N Piazzolla joins UAVS
Italian student pilot, Nico Piazzolla is interested in pursuing a flying career with MALEs, HALEs or TUAVs and has joined UAVS to try and improve his career prospects. Date Line: 25 May 2010
News Line: VIT Security Group Ltd joins UAVS
VIT Security Group Ltd offers a number of IT based security solutions including video feeds from UAS. It is hoping that its membership of UAVS will help raise its profile within the UAS industry. Date Line: 24 May 2010
News Line: Air Medical joins UAVS
Air Medical based at Oxford Airport, Kidlington provides air ambulance services with conventional rotary aircraft. It recently recognised the possibilities offers by future UAS and has formed a UAS sub-division. By joining UAVS, AM-UAS hopes to keep pace with developments in this field. Date Line: 21 May 2010
News Line: MRL joins UAVS
MRL Limited specialises in developing innovative solutions to operational challenges for a range of clients in the public and private sectors. It specialises in crisis and risk management, safety management and resilience planning. As part of its capability it offers MRL Eye, the company's own quadrotor UAS. Date Line: 20 May 2010
News Line: Falxair joins UAVS
Falxair is a new start up company based in the Isle of Man and marketing novel rotary propulsion systems. Falxair is looking for business opportunities through UAVS' networking capabilities. Date Line: 31 March 2010
News Line: Roke Manor Research joins UAVS
Roke provides complete autonomous systems and sensing and communications sub-systems as well as technology consultancy, product development, and whole life solutions in sensors, information systems and communications. Roke has realised the benefits of being aligned with its UK UAS trade association, UAVS. Date Line: 29 March 2010
News Line: Photonics & Analytical Marketing Ltd applies to join UAVS
Photonics & Analytical Marketing Ltd is a sales agency specialising in spectroscopy and represents among others Headwall Photonics Ltd who manufacture, amongst other products, a range of Hyperspectral Imaging Systems, which provide a complete spectral signature for every pixel in the image of a scene. One of their products is an HIS developed specifically for, and deployed on, UAVs: weighing approximately 1 Kg and being less than a 10 cm cube it is suitable for deployment on all but the very smallest UAVs. Photonics & Analytical Marketing hopes that UAVS will help make the right connections for this innovative payload. Date Line: 11 March 2010
News Line: Michael Bociaga studying at Purdue University, CA joins UAVS as its latest student member
Student membership of UAVS is a recent innovation by UAVS but membership in this category is growing steadily as postgraduates especially seek expert advice and information to support their specialisms and theses. Date Line: 11 March 2010
News Line: Best Attended Yet UAVS Industry Day at Rolls-Royce, Bristol
Over 50 delegates representing all the major and some of the smaller UAS UK companies attended the latest UAVS Industry Day at Rolls-Royce Bristol to network and to review two subjects, UAS Power & Propulsion and the role of composites in UAS. 6 new members were present. Copies of some of the presentations will be made available within the Members' Area in due course. Date Line: 9 March 2010
News Line: Resource Group Ltd Joins UAVS
Resource Group provides a number of specialist services to the aerospace and defence industries including specialist manpower services. It recognises the growing importance of UAS in terms of capability and therefore sees membership of UAVS as an essential step towards networking and being part of this industry. Date Line: 25 February 2010
News Line: Cobham Advanced Composites Ltd Joins UAVS
Cobham Advanced Composites already supplies specialist composite solutions to the aerospace and defence industries but is seeing many more opportunities in the UAS market. By joining UAVS it can now attend the Industry Day at Rolls-Royce which is in part addressing how composites could be used in UAS in the future. Date Line: 24 February 2010
News Line: CERAM Research Ltd Joins UAVS
CERAM Research Ltd has joined UAVS to access the UAS market and to market its materials testing, anaylsis and consultancy services. Based in Stoke-on-Trent, CERAM Research is the UK operation of a worldwide materials consultancy. Date Line: 23 February 2010
News Line: Moog Controls Ltd Joins UAVS
Tewkesbury-based Moog Controls Ltd has joined UAVS. With an established presence in the military and commercial aerospace sector, it is now finding opportunities within the UAS sector for its control systems and it sees its alignment with UAVS as an important step towards recognition within the UAS community. Date Line: 22 February 2010
News Line: Aero Systems Marketing Joins UAVS
UK-based Aero Systems Marketing is a business development and marketing consultancy specialising in the representation of US aerospace companies in the UK. It has joined UAVS as it sees significant potential for some of the actuation systems of its clients and intends to utilise the excellent networking opportunities available within UAVS to develop more business. Date Line: 17 February 2010
News Line: PPA Ltd Joins UAVS
PPA Group, a composites and specialist materials supply company based in Deeside, Flintshire, already supplies the aerospace, automotive, leisure and construction industries with advanced solutions. PPA believes that it can now offer the UAS industry similar solutions where reducing mass, improving performance and minimising profile are key criteria. Date Line: 12 February 2010
News Line: Advanced Fuel Systems Ltd T/A FuelSafe UK Joins UAVS
Advanced Fuel Systems Ltd based in Newport, Essex, offers innovative fuel solutions to the aerospace and automotive industries and sees opportunities in larger UAS. To reach this customer base AFS has joined UAVS for the business networking opportunities on offer. Date Line: 28 January 2010
News Line: UAVS presents at Midland Aerospace Alliance's "UAV Markets and Technologies" Events
UAVS was one of the presenters at the Midland Aerospace Alliance's one day conference on UAV Markets and Technologies held at the Derby City Football Ground, Pride Park Stadium, Derby. UAVS was able to bring the 100+ delegates up to date on the following subjects: Date Line: 20 January 2010
News Line: UAVS announces the Date of the Next UAVS Industry Day
The next UAVS Industry Day will take place in Bristol on Thursday March 11, 2010. The day will address two separate themes: UAV power and propulsion and the importance of composites in UAVs. Further details can be found on the Members' Events page. This is a UAVS Member Only event. Date Line: 12 January 2010
News Line: Aerial Survey and Photography Joins UAVS
Aerial Survey and Photography, a UAS services start up business based in Tadley, Hampshire, has applied to join the Association. Aerial Survey and Photography represents the fourth UAS operator service provider in the last 4 months to join UAVS as these operators being to realise that a recent change to CAA policy on unmanned aerial surveillance may impact their business models unless they can address the new requirements and act on advice available through the Association. Date Line: 6 January 2010
News Line: intelliDrones Ltd Joins UAVS
intelliDrones Ltd, an aerial photography and surveillance company operating UAS quadrotors based near Southampton, has joined the Association. The Association's work on regulation and certification was a key reason for intelliDrones becoming part of this network. History
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Association is the world's oldest not-for-profit trade association devoted exclusively to the unmanned aerial systems community, developing networks, enhancing collaboration and paving the way towards the safe, integrated and widespread exploitation of unmanned aerial systems. It was formed in 1998 and has been the recognised representative body since then. While it's focus is the civilian and commercial exploitation of UAV technology, it also serves defence and military interests too. More.... Representation
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Association represents the UAS industry in UK in the interface with Government and is a conduit for information on what is happening within the industry and the regulatory framework especially within the UK. UAVS sends representatives to the following policy, steering and working groups: - National Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee (NATMAC)
- General Aviation Consultative Committee (GACC)
- Unmanned Aerial Systems Steering Group (UASSG)
- Unmanned Aerial Systems Working Group (UASWG)
- Autonomous Systems Strategy Group (AUSSG)
- Surveillance & Spectrum Working Group (SASWG)
- ASTRAEA Steering Board
- OfCom on UAS Control and Communications Spectra
More.... Preferred Partners UAVS nutures links with non-core UAS organisations that can provide ancilliary and other services and benefits to the UAS industry. Certain of these organisations will be accorded Preferred Partner status. UAVS' current Preferred Partners are:   - Insurance - Kiln Group
- Press & Publicity - Shephard Press
If you interested in Preferred Partner status, more.... Linked-In UAVS manages a Special Interest Group on Linked-In on UAS matters that's open to members and non-members alike: 
Join this group and in its discussions, create your own UAS profile (the minimum you need to give is your name and affiliation) and increase your on-line professional network. Click on the icon above or here. | UAVS Member News
Archive Date Line: 28 June 2010
News Line: EuroUSC co-ordinates UAS Flying Stand at Farnborough 2010
Source: FIA/EuroUSC
European UAV Systems Centre Ltd (EuroUSC), a UAVS member, has responded to a last minute call from FIA to organise and co-ordinate Stand D19, Hall 3, UAS Flying at Farnborough 2010.
During the week, EuroUSC supported by Kiln Group, another UAVS member, Windsor Partners and UAVS itself will be giving regular presentations on developing safe and cost effective commercial UAS operations based on the latest regulations from the CAA. Manufacturers, Distributors, Operators, and Pilot qualification programmes run by EuroUSC will be discussed.
EuroUSC is also sponsoring a drop-in advice clinic each day of the show between 12:00 and 16:00, when there will ample opportunity to ask questions and get clarification on different aspects of UAS operations including Insurance and EuroUSC's Manufacturers, Distributor and Operator programmes. Also, find out about the new BNUC-S crew qualification.
Stand 19 will have a purpose-built indoor UAS display area, the first of its kind at a UK Aerospace exhibition. This dedicated area consists of open flying space, as well as a UAS obstacle course. Surrounded by netting, the area will ensure that manufacturers and operators can demonstrate the capabilities of their systems in a safe, controlled environment. The demonstration area measures 15m long x 9m wide x 6m high. Seats surrounding the display area will encourage visitors to stay and watch the displays. Flying will take place between 10:00 and 12:00 daily.
Click here for more information. Date Line: 6 April 2010
News Line: Thales awarded Watchkeeper Support Contract
Source: Aviation Week
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded Thales UK the initial three-year support contract for the Watchkeeper Unmanned Air System (UAS) programme, for which Thales UK is also prime systems integrator.
The Watchkeeper support solution will be a performance-based Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) service, providing spares and repairs, technical support and the availability of the Watchkeeper training facility. Thales will deliver this service with the support of its key partners and supply chain, established during the Watchkeeper development and production programme.
The contract further secures Thales's role as an expert provider of innovation and support surrounding UASs and other intelligence and surveillance systems. The contract covers the whole Watchkeeper system, comprised of over 160 entities (including unmanned air vehicles, ground control stations and support vehicles), and includes operator / user training. It is the first step in Thales UK's provision of cost-effective, through-life support to Watchkeeper.
The Watchkeeper system is Europe's largest UAS programme, and will provide enhanced all-weather, dual-sensor multi-mission and image-exploitation, and dissemination capability for the UK armed forces.
More.... Date Line: 26 February 2010
News Line: BAE Systems Looks Beyond Mantis Spiral 1
Source: Aviation Week
In October 2007, not even the design concept had been selected, but 24 months later the Mantis medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle demonstrator flew for the first time - even allowing for some non-program-related distractions.
The BAE Systems-led Mantis program, the first phase of which has been jointly funded by industry and the U.K. Defense Ministry, is aimed at addressing British military needs for a deep and persistent surveillance platform, coupled with a weapons delivery capability. The ministry has a notional in-service date of 2015-16 for such a system.
The Mantis program was put together at BAE’s Lightning Works, the company nickname for the highly secure hangar at its Warton site in the northwest of England, a rapid prototyping environment that is also the incubator for a number of past and present U.K. classified programs.
More.... Date Line: 25 February 2010
News Line: QinetiQ's Zephyr solar-powered unmanned aerial system is flown by US Naval Air Warfare Center personnel
Source: QinetiQ
QinetiQ's Zephyr High-Altitude Long-Endurance unmanned aerial system (HALE UAS) programme recently resumed flight testing and payload evaluations in Yuma, Arizona, when a joint US/UK Zephyr team undertook the first operation of the system with a US flight crew.
This test sequence, jointly sponsored by MOD UK and OSD DDRE JCTD programme, focused on evaluating potential payloads as well as advancing the conops for operating long endurance persistent aircraft in excess of five days.
The Zephyr concept is designed to offer solar-powered, persistent coverage with continuous mission durations of up to three. Capable of carrying a variety of payloads, the applications of the system include wide area surveillance, communications relay, specific target monitoring, anti-piracy efforts, route monitoring, counter-IED, border security, and local area security.
The US Army's Yuma proving ground in Arizona was the site of Zephyr's world-beating three and a half day flight in July 2008 - the fourth of a series of flight trials that have been flown in the US since 2005. Date Line: 18 February 2010
News Line: Cyberhawk Innovations appears on STV
Source: STV
Cyberhawk's Malcolm Connolly appeared on 'The Hour' on STV and demonstrated his octocopter to studio hosts, Michelle MacManus and Scott Hastings. Cyberhawk Innovations has been engaged by the Scottish Rugby Union to provide aerial video during training to assist in the analysis of plays and tactical changes. To view the video, click here. Date Line: 11 February 2010
News Line: EADS delivers second batch of Mini-UAVs to French MoD
Source: Air Force Technology
On 25 January 2010, EADS Defence & Security delivered 35 specially modified new unmanned air vehicle (UAV) DRAC systems to the French Army to enhance its capabilities in mountainous terrain.
This delivery took place at the end of a series of ground-based and in-flight verification operations launched in November 2009 and carried out together with the French defence procurement agency DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement). The new batch follows a first batch of 25 DRAC systems delivered to the Ministry of Defence in July 2008.
More....
Date Line: 10 February 2010
News Line: CAA grants Qualified Entity status to UAVS Member, European UAV Systems Centre Ltd (EuroUSC), covering the Design, Construction and Operation of Light UAS
Source: EuroUSC Press Release
UK based European Unmanned Systems Centre (EuroUSC) yesterday announced that the company have been granted ‘Qualified Entity Status’ by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for undertaking on behalf of the CAA, the assessment of Light Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Light UAS) in respect of Design, Construction and Operation. See EuroUSC Press Release
More....
EuroUSC's LUASS Date Line: 8 February 2010
News Line: Outsourced QinetiQ staff operate drones in Afghanistan
Source: The Times
Civilian contractors are being sent to Afghanistan to operate military pilotless aircraft, a development that is likely to fuel a widening debate about the use of outscourcing in front-line operations. QinetiQ, the privatised British defence technology company, has operators working with the Royal Netherlands Army in Uruzgan province in central Afghanistan providing a system of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be called on at any time by the Dutch forces.
More....
Date Line: 2 February 2010
News Line: UAVS Member Cyberhawk Innovations aims to convert Scotland's Six Nations chances
Source: The Scotsman
It is a branch of technology that is viewed as the preserve of the military and government agencies, used for the covert surveillance of a country's citizens.
But now unmanned drones, long dismissed as an example of Big Brother's interfering hand, could serve the national good – by propelling the Scottish rugby team towards glory.
As the national team prepares for the RBS Six Nations, it is complementing more traditional methods of training with the cutting edge device.
The Cyberhawks, radio-controlled helicopters featuring an on-board video camera, are being sent high above the training ground to record the action. It is hoped by analysing the positions, patterns and runs the Scottish rugby team can gain an advantage in preparation for the Six Nations tournanment ahead. UAS Industry News
Archive Date Line: 7 April 2010
News Line: CAA publishes 4th Edition of CAP722
Source: CAA
The CAA has updated CAP722 so that it now in line with ANO2009. To download a copy of the 4th Edition, click here. Date Line: 22 February 2010
News Line: Astrium and EADS in EDA UAV study
Source: Defence Contracts Bulletin
The European Defence Agency (EDA) has selected an Astrium and EADS Defence & Security (DS) consortium to lead a six-month study to demonstrate that it is feasible to integrate UAVs into civil airspace by using satellite communications.
EADS DS has more than 30 years experience in UAVs, while Astrium, Europe's largest space company, will determine what satellite-based services are need to operate UAVs safely in civil airspace and how they will be used.
Today UAVs only operate in segregated airspace for military operations. Integrating UAVs safely into civil airspace would enable them to be used to assist in a variety of civil and para-civil applications. These include maritime patrol, border surveillance, agriculture monitoring, weather/atmospheric data collection, and high-altitude geological and infrastructure mapping.
As part of the six-month feasibility study, the consortium will meet key European civil and military stakeholders. On completion of the study, the EDA and the European Space Agency ( |
