The UK Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) has introduced a new system to simplify the process of creating airspace notifications for construction activities. The new Airspace Co-ordination Obstacle Management Service (ACOMS) portal will help those planning flights and drone activity to assess any risks and plan appropriately.
As with any tall structure, the presence of a single crane or number of cranes has the potential to affect aviation activities. The ACOMS portal helps users notify the regulator of cranes and obstacles, so that they can be reviewed and made available through aeronautical information for people planning flights, drone activity, and other aerial movements.
Crane operators must notify the UK Civil Aviation Authority when erecting a crane over 10m tall within 6km of an aerodrome, unless it is surrounded by taller structures or trees. They must also make the regulator aware if the crane or obstacle is 100m above ground level or higher, if it is over 6km away from an aerodrome.
ACOMS is available to the construction industry now and further developments to the portal are being made to roll out its use to additional airspace users, which will follow later this year, says the CAA.
For more information visit:
www.caa.co.uk
