Drones and GA meet at Share The Air

South coast and southwest drone users are invited to a major free drone safety event at Compton Abbas airfield on Saturday 11 November. The first major event in the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) new ‘Share the Air’ campaign, the open day will give drone users and General Aviation (GA) enthusiasts an opportunity to learn from each other while promoting safe flying for all.

Attendees will be given the chance to see for themselves the range of flying opportunities that exist in their local areas, as well as receive top tips on how they can use their drones responsibly, enabling them to expand their love of flying.

Expert Attendees
Alongside the staff of Compton Abbas airfield, the event will play host to several experts from across the sector:
• The Phantom Flight School will be on hand to give flying and photography advice
• Yuneec, global drone manufacturer, will be showcasing its latest models with a flying display (subject to weather)
• UAVision, a local drone distributor, will be providing expert advice and hand-on demonstrations of drone maintenance
• V-Mach Media, a VR specialist, will be providing two highly realistic training simulators for attendees to try, including their Rotor Rush racing system.
• Air traffic control body NATS will be on site to talk about their drone flying app and future work.
The CAA will also be available to provide the latest information on the UK and European regulations covering drones.

Community Responsibility
The ‘Share the Air’ initiative aims to demonstrate to drone pilots the significance of the role they play within the aviation community, and help them build stronger links with local airfields. Through increased collaboration between drone users and the General Aviation community, the CAA hopes to ensure all parties are aligned in their use of the skies, and are able to share the space responsibly.

CAA spokesman, Jonathan Nicholson, said, “Drones being the latest ‘must have’ in tech, we’ve seen a huge spike in drone ownership across the country. What’s vital now is that we ensure both drone users and the GA communities are equipped to share the air in a safe, yet enjoyable way that benefits both parties.

“By enlisting the help of the GA community, drone enthusiasts have a fantastic chance to be welcomed to the fold of flying, whilst simultaneously learning more about the environment they operate in. It might even inspire them to follow in the footsteps of the pilots they will be speaking to.

If you have a drone but are unsure of where to fly it safely or you want to know how to get the most out of your new bit of kit then this event is for you.”

The event starts at 10.30 with presentations from the CAA, Compton Abbas airfield and The Phantom Flight School. The teams of experts will then be on hand all day to help with any further questions or advice. Free refreshments will be available.

The airfield flying school will also be offering trial flying lessons (subject to weather conditions) for those interested in trying out private flying for real.

The event is free but pre-registration is required. Places are limited and will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis. To register for the event please go to http://dronesafe.uk/compton/  and fill out the form for the event (maximum two places per application).
The Dronecode is available to download at www.dronesafe.uk.