skydriller wrote:The problem I have with BVLOS drone ops is that the drone operator is not at risk himself, only others he shares the skies with. The day that drones are approved for use in controlled airspace with CAT will be the day that they are safe for use in uncontrolled airspace. Until then they will need segregating.
That’s a fair point, but these UAVs already have the ability to detect and avoid other aircraft, and seem to do so more reliably than humans. Since they also have ADSB-out they are easy for light GA to detect, see and avoid.
What then, is the risk which these “Drone TDAs” purport to address?
Has anyone seen a proper risk assessment?
If so, how does that risk compare to other risks associated with, say, low-level flight in the Galloway hills?
What’s the value of a TDA in a volume of G airspace which is has no FIS/ATC radio coverage or radar surveillance?
If compliance is effectively voluntary, why not just NOTAM the UAV activity and allow GA pilots to manage their own risk by self-segregation or EC, or other means.