New UK Safety Insights to Guide Future eVTOL Regulation Published

To drive safety in our future airspace, WMG at the University of Warwick has been working with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on new research to assess how future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft can be safely integrated into UK skies.

The 18-month study, financed by the Department for Transport, is an integral component of the regulator’s Future of Flight programme. It employs systems thinking to evaluate the safety of prospective eVTOL aircraft operations within UK airspace. Systems thinking involves comprehending how various components of a system interact and affect each other, rather than concentrating on individual elements in isolation.

The project involves conducting research at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, an event characterised by a significant volume of helicopter and potential eVTOL operations. This work aids in the formulation of regulatory frameworks to facilitate the safe incorporation of innovative aviation technologies, such as eVTOL aircraft. Additionally, the research underscores critical areas for regulatory progress, including airspace integration, vertiport operations, and automation.

Rick Newson, Co-Chair of the eVTOL Safety Leadership Group at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “With eVTOL aircraft expected to enter UK airspace within the next few years, proactive planning and coordination are essential to ensure their safe, responsible, and seamless integration. This research provides valuable insights into the complex challenges and potential risks ahead. The results will feed into our ongoing regulatory development to enable innovation while maintaining the highest safety standards.”

The project was designed to identify potential hazards and safety gaps related to eVTOL operations by analysing the interactions among aircraft, software, hardware, and human factors.

The delivery was achieved through close collaboration with the industry via the UK’s eVTOL Safety Leadership Group (eVSLG). Through workshops and technical meetings, a diverse range of stakeholders, including Bristow and NATS, provided operational expertise that informed the safety analysis and ensured the findings accurately represent pertinent real-world challenges.

Professor Siddartha Khastgir, Head of Safe Autonomy at WMG, said: “For any technology, ensuring its safety is an absolute requirement for it to succeed commercially. And for emerging technologies like eVTOLs, a systems thinking approach to safety is necessary to understand the multiple interactions between the stakeholders. Underpinned by an open and transparent discussion, we commend and are grateful for this sector’s willingness to participate in this study, enabling them to identify and prepare for safety challenges for future eVTOL operations.”

The research proactively identifies risks that may arise from the future integration of eVTOLs into an already complex airspace system. The study identifies over 50 high-priority areas, many of which apply to both eVTOL and helicopter operations. Some of the key outputs of the report include:

• Airspace integration challenges: Air Navigation Service Providers should implement mechanisms to detect and alert controllers/service providers to deviations in aircraft performance (e.g., altitude, speed, trajectory) from expected parameters.

• Vertiport operational standards: The criticality of energy management requires Ground Services to use advanced real-time sensors to ensure continuous feedback on landing conditions.

• Automation and simulation oversight: There are currently no mandated protocols for using automation and simulation tools to detect performance deviations or predict flight path conflicts.

Simon Meakins, Co-Chair of the eVTOL Safety Leadership Group and Director of Advanced Air Mobility at Bristow Group, said: “This is an extremely valuable piece of work which proactively identifies potential risks and enables them to be mitigated effectively. With the emergence of new technologies, it is essential to pragmatically manage safety from the start; this project is an important part of that process. I thank the entire team who has been engaged in the project for their dedication.”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority is currently evaluating these findings as part of its continuous efforts in regulatory development. Additionally, the findings will contribute to the Airspace Modernisation Strategy, facilitating the integration of new airspace users as emerging technologies are introduced.