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A Complete Guide to PDRA-08: VLOS Operations with Airspace Observers and Swarming Drones
PDRA-08 focuses on VLOS operations, with Airspace Observers, over a controlled ground area, with drones under 1 meter in size, and conducted within a Temporarily Segregated Area (TSA). The TSA ensures safe and flexible operations with minimized air traffic conflict.
Typical operation within this PDRA 08 is swarming.
Typical operation within this PDRA 08 is swarming.
PDRA-08 Characteristics
The requirements for flight within this scenario are as follows:
- VLOS with Airspace Observers
- With several Unmanned Aircraft, but always maximum up to 1 meter dimension and below 700 J of kinetic energy
- Flights over a controlled ground area
- Operations shall be conducted within a maximum height of flight geography 120 m or in a segregated / reserved airspace
- Flights within controlled or uncontrolled airpsace, with a low probability of encounter with manned aircraft.
Risk Level
Operational risk classification according to SORA methodology:
| GRC Final | 2 | Final ARC | ARC-a / ARC-b | SAIL | I or II |
|---|
- ARC-a (if operations are conducted within a segregated airspace).
- ARC-b (otherwise)
Ground Requirements
The operator shall determine a flight geography that protects third parties outside the operational volume. Thus:
- Fixed wing: you should use the 1:1 rule to determine the minimum ground safety buffer distance.
- Rotating wing: in this case, the distance may be reduced by applying the ballistic calculation methodology.
If swarming:
- Due to the possible large number of UAs flying at the same time and considering speed/height of the UAs, the 1:1 rule could not be sufficient to guarantee that all the swarm will remain within the buffer.
- The UAS operator should define a ground risk buffer calculated based on ballistic trajectories of the UAs in case of failure.
Air Requirements
Flights can be performed:
- Below 120 m in uncontrolled or controlled airspace with a low risk of encounter with manned aircraft (corresponding to a final air risk that can be classified as not higher than ARC-b).
- Above 120 m in segregated airspace (corresponding to an air risk that can be classified as not higher than ARC-a)
Pilot Training
In order to perform flights within the PDRA S-08 scenario, it is necessary for the operator to propose to the national aviation authority a training plan that is based on the “open” category, with the addition of the following elements:
In addition, a practical training plan based on the characteristics of the operation, which should cover:
- Air Safety
- Aviation Regulation for specific category, SORA and PDRA
- Navigation
- Human performance limitations
- Operational procedures
- Aircraft knownledge
- Meteorology
- Risk mitigation for air risk
In addition, a practical training plan based on the characteristics of the operation, which should cover:
- Preparation of operations
- Flight preparation
- Flight under normal conditions
- Flight under abnormal conditions
- Fligh under emergency conditions