Originally Posted by
helisdw
If the UAS / RPAS that are used in the UK are sufficiently advanced that midair collisions are guaranteed to be avoided then this is certainly reassuring and a development that is to be applauded.
Current UK CAA policy is that UAS/RPAS up to 20 KG (referred to as Small Unmanned Aircraft) can only be flown VLOS (from the Remote Pilot) and up to 400 FT AGL unless specific permission is granted otherwise by CAA. If it is intended to be flown Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) it must either be equipped with a certified detect and avoid system (which currently there are none) or it has to operate within segregated or controlled airspace (Class A-D) whereby there is a known traffic environment and ATC can apply separaration.
While a detect and avoid system may never be available for SUA it is beginning to appear on larger UAS, as with the Elbit 900 Hermes, albeit the one demonstrated in Wales had only ADS-B and a SSR transponder. Elbit do advertise a detect and avoid system on their website, if they can get it certified, as mentioned in a previous post, the flood gates will open for commercial/law enforcement and other operation of UAS in UK.
The recent demonstration of Hermes 900 in the UK was accordingly currently only possible in segregated airspace (most established temporarily to accomodate it) and controlled airspace (Class A), the latter being necessary to accomodate a transit to an offshore search area south of Ireland.