Purpose of this change

This proposal is for a Temporary change to the notified airspace design, for which a scaled airspace change process applies and a change level is not applicable.

Skylift UAV Limited are undertaking a 12-week trial on behalf of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Isle of Wight NHS Trust to transport chemotherapy drugs between Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and St Mary’s Hospital in Newport, Isle of Wight, using unmanned aircraft.

COVID-19 is directly disrupting the ability of Isle of Wight NHS Trust to procure chemotherapy for its cancer patients. As the Trust does not have a Pharmacy Manufacturing Unit of its own, it is wholly dependent on Portsmouth Trust for the supply of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs have a short shelf-life (8-24 hours) and since there is a (pre-COVID-19) 3 to 4-hour travel time between the hospitals (2 taxis and a ferry), the chemotherapy must be manufactured before the patient is confirmed as able to attend or receive the treatment. COVID-19 has had a negative impact on this issue as it is causing disruption to the ferry companies through suspensions, delays and changing timetables. This is making it difficult for St Mary’s Hospital to organise chemotherapy deliveries and sessions. If a patient is unable to receive the chemotherapy, it is wasted. Importantly COVID-19 has made it harder to reschedule the missed session, which is clinically more imperative to organise.

Reducing the delivery time to a 32-minute direct flight between the two hospitals would be transformative, as the chemotherapy could be manufactured once patients are confirmed as able to receive treatment, before being delivered on-demand. Moreover, unnecessary patient and staff travel could be eliminated, and costs reduced as chemotherapy is saved from wastage and taxis/ferries are bypassed. Furthermore, sustainability improvements will be measured.

Faster, on-demand delivery of chemotherapy to St Mary’s Hospital would respond to the Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s call for help to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. In addition, other time-sensitive items, such as swabs, blood tests, vaccines, PPE, test kits, testing reagents and blood units could be transported between the two hospitals. To these ends, beyond visual line of sight unmanned aircraft operations will be required and, in accordance with CAP 1915, such operations must be conducted within segregated airspace. CAP 1915 states that the primary method for achieving this is by application for a Temporary Danger Area (TDA). Skylift UAV Limited therefore request the establishment of a TDA to segregate their operations accordingly.

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Step 6a : Implement

This step has been started

During the Implement Step, the change sponsor implements the approved change, working with air navigation service providers as necessary.

Documents for this proposal (28 documents)

ACP-2021-002 - Stakeholder Email (79.2kB PDF)

Step 6a - Other

Date added: 19 August 2022

ACS-2021-002 Extension Withdrawal Statement (85.0kB PDF)

Step 6a - Other

Date added: 19 August 2022

Summary of Stakeholder Engagement for TDA Extension 14722 (9.4MB PDF)

Step 6a - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 15 July 2022

ACP-2021-002: BVLOS UAS Operations - extension request (95.3kB PDF)

Step 6a - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 01 July 2022

Decision Email (106.4kB PDF)

Step 6a - Other

Date added: 28 March 2022

Summary of Stakeholder Engagement for TDA Delay 23322 (4.7MB PDF)

Step 6a - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 23 March 2022

Stakeholder Engagement Update Feb 22 (130.7kB PDF)

Step 6a - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 27 February 2022

Stakeholder Decision Email (78.9kB PDF)

Step 6a - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 01 December 2021

Extension Decision (82.4kB PDF)

Step 6a - Other

Date added: 01 December 2021

Summary of Stakeholder Engagement for TDA Extension (368.7kB PDF)

Step 6a - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 22 November 2021

TDA Extension Request November 2021 (224.4kB PDF)

Step 6a - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 05 November 2021

Decision Meeting Result E-mail to Stakeholders (104.1kB PDF)

Step 6a - Other

Date added: 16 July 2021

CAA Approval Email (81.6kB PDF)

Step 6a - Other

Date added: 15 July 2021

Summary of Stakeholder Engagement and Final Proposal - Version 2 (3.2MB PDF)

Step 4 - Airspace Change Proposal

Date added: 04 June 2021

Update E-mail to Stakeholders following Decision Meeting (88.2kB PDF)

Step 5 - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 25 May 2021

Letter of Support from NHS Innovation and Research Team (41.3kB PDF)

Step 1 - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 25 May 2021

Summary of Stakeholder Engagement and Final Proposal - Version 1 (3.1MB PDF)

Step 4 - Airspace Change Proposal

Date added: 17 May 2021

Decision Email (104.5kB PDF)

Step 5 - Other

Date added: 14 May 2021

Update e-mail to Stakeholders (62.0kB PDF)

Step 1 - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 01 April 2021

Letter of Support from IoW NHS Trust (131.9kB PDF)

Step 1 - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 01 April 2021

Revised Statement of Need 20210401 (115.6kB PDF)

Step 1 - Statement of Need

Date added: 01 April 2021

Assessment Meeting Minutes (173.9kB PDF)

Step 1 - Assessment Meeting Minutes

Date added: 26 March 2021

Proposed TDA Dimensions (537.5kB PDF)

Step 1 - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 19 March 2021

Feedback Form (87.1kB PDF)

Step 1 - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 19 March 2021

E-mail to Stakeholders (78.4kB PDF)

Step 1 - Engagement Evidence

Date added: 19 March 2021

Assessment Meeting Agenda (587.4kB PDF)

Step 1 - Assessment Meeting Agenda

Date added: 12 March 2021

Revised Statement of Need 20210309 (115.5kB PDF)

Step 1 - Statement of Need

Date added: 09 March 2021

Statement of Need (166.8kB PDF)

Step 1 - Statement of Need

Date added: 11 January 2021

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Potentially affected area

This is the area which may be affected by this airspace change depending on its development. This area may change as the proposal is developed.

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