CONDUCTING A REGULATED COMMERCIAL DRONE OP CLOSE TO MALTA AERODROME WITHOUT DISRUPTING MANNED AIR OPERATIONS.
Imagine a world in which air traffic controllers feel safe to allow KNOWN regulated commercial unmanned operations to run in tandem with manned operations. That was the scene at Malta Aerodrome last January 2018 where Hawk Aerospace flew a commercial drone op at Malta Aerodrome on a commercial aerial survey operation without disrupting any manned air operations.
SCOPE
Malta Air Traffic Services (MATS), the Maltese Air Navigation Service Provider are currently planning Malta’s new and first air traffic control centre. The purpose of this building is give air traffic controllers enhanced visibility over the aerodrome for greater efficiency and safety.
Before going forward with this project, MATS had the million-dollar operational question, how high did the new tower had to be, to address MATS’ needs. Questions were raised in view of Obstacle Limitations Surfaces requirements by the industry, visual line of sight, and costs. That is when MATS contacted Hawk Aerospace, a Maltese company with a reputation for providing true professional engineered drone solutions in Malta, to see if a drone could be used to answer their question.
THE MALTESE AERODROME
To gain context for the scope of this project we need to understand the unique characteristics of Malta Aerodrome. The aerodrome itself lies smack in the middle of inhabited areas with its take-off and landing paths clearly in the line of the local towns and villages. The aerodrome flies standard commercial international air travel with numerous daily movements.
The Malta aerodrome is the only aerodrome in the country that serves civil aviation, general aviation, light aircraft as well as the military. Drones are not yet permitted to operate over the aerodrome as they are not recognised fully as aircraft by the regulators.
DRONES AND AERODROMES, FRIENDS OR FOES?
According to Airsight, a UK based airport consultancy firm, a recent survey showed that more than 25% of the interviewed airports had experience with drone operations. They argue that drone operations at or around aerodromes are subject to special conditions, but in most cases these conditions are simply not yet defined.
This leads to a systematic rejection of all drone operation applications or generates a lot of efforts to review the applications on a case-by-case basis.
This has been true in Malta where commercial and personal drones are not yet regulated. Regulations are in the process and are expected to be out by mid-2018. Without proper regulation or precedents to look upon, the challenge was how could Hawk satisfy MATS’ needs when the legal framework for such commercial operations is inexistent in Malta without disturbing the normal operations of Malta’s busy airport?
THE TEAM IS ASSEMBLED
Despite the challenges Hawk Aerospace did not want to let the opportunity fall aback. Hawk brought its drone flight experts and its risk management specialists around one table together with MATS Safety, Quality and Security management.
Together they devised the required regulatory frameworks and permits for the flight to happen as well as set up operational guidelines to ensure safety. Hawk Aerospace provided its technical and risk management expertise to provide a plan that Malta Air Traffic Services found safe, was viable and did not disrupt the aerodrome. With the plans ready it was time for the actual operation.
THE DAY
On Saturday 27th January 2018, a Hawk Aerospace drone flew from outside the fence of the aerodrome and leapt up into the air. As Neil Armstrong said, ‘this was a small step for man, but a giant leap for mankind’. Although the flight was a simple one, the fact that it flew a regulated commercial operation next to the aerodrome without interfering manned operation, was a smooth operation.
The operation was completed safely and successfully in a couple of hours’ time. The data was given to MATS for their operational and commercial analysis whilst the team at Hawk could be seen with a smile that read ‘I love it when a plan comes together’.
It was all made possible thanks to Hawk’s meticulous risk management and proficient dedication to safety as well as the openness to collaborate of all those who played a part in this operation.
