Flying High: shaping the future of drones in UK cities
Glossary Term
Acronym
Definition
Air traffic control
ATC
Services that guide aircraft and deconflict airspace
Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast
ADS-B
A type of electronic conspicuity device
Civil Aviation Authority
CAA
The UK's aviation regulator
Class A/B/C/D/E/F/G airspace
Airspace is divided into different classes with different rules on what is and is not permissible. Classes A-E are controlled airspace, classes F and G are uncontrolled airspace
Controlled airspace, uncontrolled airspace
Controlled airspace is airspace that can only be used following instructions from air traffic control. Uncontrolled airspace is open to general aviation to fly in using visual flight rules without air traffic control
Electronic conspicuity
EC
A class of technologies that make an object such as a drone visible to electronic systems such as air traffic control
Eurocontrol
Intergovernmental agency that oversees and coordinates air traffic control across the continent of Europe
European Aviation Safety EASA Agency
European Union agency that oversees aviation safety
Fixed-wing
Drones that gain their lift from wings, like a plane
Hybrid VTOL fixed-wing
Drones that take off vertically using rotors, then fly forward using wings
Multi-rotor
Drones that gain their lift from rotors, like a helicopter
National Air Traffic Services
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Nats
The company that runs the UK's air traffic control system
