Reading to Coventry Drone Superhighway

[sandringham1]

Completed by 2024.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-67521014

[dixi188]

Why don't they just call it a Low Level Airway?

[ETOPS]

Think I might have spotted a problem..

The drones will stay below 328ft (100m) altitude,

Notwithstanding they mean "height" these routes are right through the open airspace currently used by myriad forms of aviation. How are current aviators going to protect themselves from the sudden appearance of these small aircraft when say lifting off in a helicopter, landing out in a glider or operating from a private airstrip?

[DaveReidUK]

Think I might have spotted a problem..

Notwithstanding they mean "height" these routes are right through the open airspace currently used by myriad forms of aviation. How are current aviators going to protect themselves from the sudden appearance of these small aircraft when say lifting off in a helicopter, landing out in a glider or operating from a private airstrip?

From their blurb:

Nearby manned aviation and even other non-participating drones are mapped in real-time so safe distances are maintained, and appropriate avoidance actions can be taken if they are predicted to be breached. If a conflict is detected, drones involved will be automatically given appropriate avoidance instructions, such as an instruction to change flight path, hold, return or land. A remote pilot will also be alerted, and manual control of the drone can be taken at any time.

Hmmm.
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[Jhieminga]

Seeing as how good we are at ‘mapping’ other forms of aviation within the small, low, slow (and other adjectives) GA community, I wonder which miraculous system is going to provide this information…? 😉 Surely not the Mk.1 eyeball…

[Lonewolf_50]

ETOPS, you voiced the question that popped into my mind. Is there a bit of "big sky, little aircraft" thinking going on here?

[Badger3434]

Think I might have spotted a problem..



Notwithstanding they mean "height" these routes are right through the open airspace currently used by myriad forms of aviation. How are current aviators going to protect themselves from the sudden appearance of these small aircraft when say lifting off in a helicopter, landing out in a glider or operating from a private airstrip?

Or me flying my kite from my field?

[ETOPS]

Is there a bit of "big sky, little aircraft" thinking going on here?

Almost certainly - however I’m sure the people involved have little idea about the density of ad hoc aviation taking place along their route.

The near miss statistics will be interesting…

[N707ZS]

Would be interesting to know who would be at fault. Scenario, just about to land a balloon on a suitable piece of land when a drone comes through and causes an amount of damage to the balloon and probably the drone.

[rans6andrew]

Erm, is there not a rule that states that no aircraft should be flown closer than 500ft to person, vessel, vehicle or structure?

If something is flying at the height of a clay pigeon, can we shoot it down?

Just wondering.

Rans6.......

[Sallyann1234]

Many other routes coming...

The UK is set to become home to the world's largest automated drone superhighway within the next two years.The drones will be used on the 164-mile Skyway project connecting towns and cities, including Cambridge and Rugby.
BBC link from 2022
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62177614

[Ancient Observer]

I imagine that the nice, non-competitive, delightfully agreeable GA types from High Wycomber will have fun with this.

[andymartin]

I have my air rifle at the ready 😊

[NutLoose]

Erm, is there not a rule that states that no aircraft should be flown closer than 500ft to person, vessel, vehicle or structure?

If something is flying at the height of a clay pigeon, can we shoot it down?

Just wondering.

Rans6.......

What you need to do is buy yourself a Drone Jammer, then you can become the modern day Dick Turpin of Berkshire, holding up the Royal Mail and whatever else they are carrying, heck you don't even need an eye mask to hide your identity....

:p

[meleagertoo]

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen to me.
The 500ft rule only applies when en-route, not when taking off or landing as helos, balloons and gliders and farmstrip aircraft regularly do, and in any case is not applicable in open countryside where there are no persons, vehicles, vessels or structures.

[pilotmike]

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen to me.
It could happen to any of us, not just you.

[jolihokistix]

As long as they are silent, surely no nimby can complain!

[Andrewgr2]

Think I might have spotted a problem..



Notwithstanding they mean "height" these routes are right through the open airspace currently used by myriad forms of aviation. How are current aviators going to protect themselves from the sudden appearance of these small aircraft when say lifting off in a helicopter, landing out in a glider or operating from a private airstrip?
The ‘beacons’ might just spot the glider landing in a field. They would stand no chance of seeing the glider winch launching or the winch rope that might be stretching up to 2000’. When I first heard about this scheme I looked at how many air activity sites there were marked on the chart between Reading and Coventry and how far these drones would have to deviate if they were to stay, say, 1.5 miles clear of any of them. I reckoned that they would have to go around 20 miles off the published track. I picked 1.5 miles as the distance at which an approaching or departing aircraft could be below about 500’. I don’t think the backers of these schemes have any concept of what happens in the lowest airspace. Will the beacons detect the difference between a flock of birds and a heavy shower? I doubt it. And how about the clutter generated by vehicles screening the low flying aircraft- or other drone?