Issue 40 Unmanned Systems Technology October/November 2021 ANYbotics ANYmal D l AI systems focus l Aquatic Drones Phoenix 5 l Space vehicles insight l Sky Eye Rapier X-25 l FlyingBasket FB3 l GCS focus l AUVSI Xponential 2021

74 Risk assessment The team has put a lot of effort into detailed mission descriptions and risk assessments, the latter requiring use of the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) method. SORA involves 10 steps, beginning with a characterisation of the scenario in which the vehicle will fly and including identification of the Ground Risk Class and Air Risk Class. The first takes into account the factors discussed above, while the second characterises how the UAV could encounter a manned aircraft in civil airspace, with mitigations applied to both. “We have received authorisations to perform commercial operations through the ENAC and, as the first company able to perform cross-border operations, we have also received authorisations from the authorities in Austria and Germany,” Rohra says, emphasising that the company has also built up experience of dealing with the different regulatory requirements of foreign authorities such as Switzerland. As Switzerland is not an EU member, FlyingBasket put in extra effort to ensure compliance with Swiss regulations. Switzerland is currently considering the adoption of EU UAV regulations, and once the proposal has been approved by the Swiss parliament, cross-border authorisation should be easier to obtain. Naturally, the pilots also need to have the appropriate categories on their UAV licences. “All our pilots have the necessary licences, and they are accumulating a lot of operational experience,” Rohra says. As well as the pilot, the deployed operational team typically also includes an assistant to the pilot and at least one visual airspace observer (AO), although the assistant can also act as an AO. The observer’s role is to maintain visual contact with the UAV throughout the mission and warn the pilot of any developing airborne hazards, such as aircraft that may be approaching, and communicate those clearly and precisely. The EASA is aiming for flexibility in its observer certification requirements, saying that commercial UAV operators should propose the training needed October/November 2021 | Unmanned Systems Technology The FB3 showing its eight electric motors driving rotors in coaxial pairs, the skid undercarriage and remotely operated cargo hook as it leaves its trailer With all major components fixed to the outside of the FB3’s four-armed alloy structure, the UAV is designed for ease of maintenance in the field Our geographical location enables us to enhance the drone’s robustness and redundancy, and the operational team’s capabilities