Significant investment is being made into UAS and UAM systems and their commercial use, with the "drone" community aggressively advocating for the widespread implementation of BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations outside controlled airspace (CAS).

The CAA may seek to contain these flights within Temporary Reserved Areas (TRAs), potentially converting them into Mandatory Transponder Zones (MTZs), which would result in fragmented uncontrolled airspace, with disjointed MTZs creating a patchwork that could severely disrupt the access to such airspace for GA operations.

AOPA will advocate for non-segregated airspace outside CAS with the current "see and avoid" for VFR operations replaced by "detect and avoid", where the UAS is responsible for detecting and avoiding all other airspace users.

The debate must therefore turn to how a detect and avoid environment can be achieved and enable non-segregated airspace safely, with international compatibility standards. 

The CAA needs to reconsider its airspace modernisation strategy, focusing
on true integration across all airspace classes rather than imposing piecemeal
solutions.

A coordinated national approach is essential. The NATS Open Air project holds promise, but must adopt a nationwide perspective and compatibility, rather than
devolving into fragmented, regional and UK only solutions. The integration of all airspace users – manned and unmanned – requires a cohesive strategy that balances innovation with accessibility.

Formulating policy means making choices. The aviation community must challenge the status quo and advocate for policies that enable equitable airspace access, technological advancement, and seamless integration.

The rapid growth of drone operations and the potential introduction of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) systems present both opportunities and challenges. While innovation in aviation should be welcomed, it must not come at the expense of existing airspace users, no work appears to be going with respect to interoperability issues.

AOPA UK has been heavily involved in discussions on U-Space and drone integration, advocating for a cooperative approach that ensures GA’s needs are considered. However, commercial interests wield significant influence, and unless GA pilots and organisations remain engaged, future airspace structures could be designed without them in mind.

We need to avoid a situation where in future GA may need to carry equipment with different standards to fly in European and UK airspace in the future.

AOPA supports the principle of the carriage of electronic conspicuity devices where this will allow full and safe access to non-segregated airspace. However such devices must:

• Give verifiable and sustainable safety benefits.
• Be interoperable.
• Be internationally accepted.
• Be adaptable for all airspace users. 

UAS and UAM operatorions will be largely for commercial gain. As beneficiaries from access to airspace, any costs associated with providing a safe environment and full access for existing airspace users should be borne by the beneficiaries.