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.
Network Rail have been using Aerial Inspection tools now for over fifteen years. In the last six years this has included UAS. Initially through a framework of companies then the introduction of Internal UAS VLOS operations. This has allowed Network Rail to be able to carry out various use case studies, to identify what aspects of Inspection work could be undertook by UAS alone. British Rail had sold off so much of its land which means track access is very limited and the use of UAS under VLOS conditions is unachievable, some of which kilometres apart.
Within the last four years four people have lost their lives whilst working in the track environment. One in the last week. Two of which the primary reason was visual inspections, a task that could be carried out using a UAS. Network Rail know that UAS will not be able to access all of the 20,000 miles of track due to the proximity of the assets, airspace restrictions and weather parameters that UAS may not be able to operate in, however Network Rail need to change its Inspection methods to reduce the risk of people having to enter the extremely hazardous track environment, and utilising a UAS that can fly BVLOS is one very strong possibility. Network Rail is a Safety Critical company and so as such would need to prove the case that it can be carried out over the environment we manage. The rail environment comes with an extremely different set of problems over other environments and Air Operations have captured a lot of these learnings, however now need to carry on capturing data as safely and expeditiously as possible to try and progress this use case. There is an element of urgency on these tests so as a company we can look at this as an option as soon as possible.
Network Rail Air Operations who has a pedigree of Manned and Unmanned Aviation, would like to carry out test flights over a 20 kilometre piece of track that is still under construction between Oxfords
