Visit the article here!

We speak with John Hawtree, Patent Director at HGF Ltd.

ARPAS-UK Director Aleks Kowalski in conversation with aerospace IP expert John Hawtree of HGF Ltd. This wide ranging discussion covers patent basics through to more advanced strategy, techniques and theory, all with an emphasis on application to the drone and wider aerospace sectors.

Drawing on nearly two decades of experience – including time with Rolls-Royce – John provided us with clear, practical guidance on how operators, developers and manufacturers can protect their innovations through Intellectual Property (IP) and patenting.

A must watch, especially for those in the aerospace sector, whether you are new to patents and IP in general or wanting a more advanced understanding.

👉 Become a member of the UK's association for the commercial drone industry!

Join Now: ⁠https://arpas.uk/join-arpas-uk/⁠

** 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 **

𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: ⁠https://arpas.uk/⁠

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻: /arpas-uk

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸: /ukarpas

𝗫: /arpasuk

At ARPAS-UK, we’re dedicated to supporting the UK’s commercial drone industry through webinars, industry news, networking, CPD, and much more. Join the association today to stay connected and ahead in the field.

𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶-𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 | 𝟬𝟯

With:

𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 | Jo Bellett - Chair of ARPAS-UK's Agri-Environment SIG

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 | Scott Dowell

𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 | Simon Ritterband

𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗙𝗦𝗙) '𝗬𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀' | Alix Morley

The third episode of the Agri-Tech Frontiers webinar series focuses on how uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) are being used in agriculture, with particular attention on risk, safety, insurance, and operator protection.

Bringing together agri-drone operators, insurers, and farm safety specialists, the session explored how drones are already changing day-to-day agricultural operations and what this means in practice for regulation, insurance, and on-farm safety.

Speakers share real operational experience, highlighting the importance of training, clear operating standards, and transparent incident reporting. The discussion also looks at how insurance products are adapting to reflect emerging agri-drone use cases, including crop spraying, and how this can support wider adoption.

The webinar also places agri-drone technology in the broader context of farm safety and mental wellbeing, considering where drones may help reduce exposure to some of agriculture’s highest-risk activities.

👉 This web series is in conjunction with the ARPAS-UK Agri-Environment Special Interest Group: https://arpas.uk/agri-environment-sig/

You can also find more Drones in Agriculture related content here at ARPAS-UK.

If you would like to get in touch with the Special Interest Group at ARPAS-UK, please contact [email protected]

📺 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 - Go to https://arpas.uk to find out more

The Agri-Tech Frontiers journey is just beginning. Join us for our next events as we chart the future of agri-drones in the UK

⭐ 𝗔𝗚𝗥𝗜-𝗘𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗜𝗚 @ 𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Providing a collaborative forum to explore how drone technology supports precision farming, crop health assessment, soil and water management, habitat mapping, biodiversity monitoring and conservation. Find out more at: https://arpas.uk

ARPAS-UK recently hosted Association members City of Virginia Beach and the AUVSI (Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International) Hampton Roads chapter to discuss the latest developments in US drone operations – and how UK organisations can take practical steps toward expanding into the US market.

Visit the article here!

This session is essential viewing for UK companies looking to understand the US landscape, identify opportunities and connect with regional leaders driving uncrewed systems innovation.

We hear from:

Anne-Lise Scaillierez – CEO & Director of ARPAS-UK

Dominique DeBose – Business Development Manager, City of Virginia Beach Economic Development

Charles Macdowell – Business Development – Representative, UK & ROI, City of Virginia Beach

Anthony ‘Tony‘ Sanchez – President, AUVSI Hampton Roads chapter

If you’re exploring opportunities in the United States, this Fireside Chat provides a direct, practical overview of how to get started and who can support your journey.

Find out more at: https://arpas.uk/virginia-beach-auvsi-hr-your-uav-sector-springboards-into-the-usa/

👉 Become a member of the UK's association for the commercial drone industry!

Join Now: https://arpas.uk/join-arpas-uk/

** 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 **

𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://arpas.uk/

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻: /arpas-uk

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸: /ukarpas

𝗫: /arpasuk

At ARPAS-UK, we’re dedicated to supporting the UK’s commercial drone industry through webinars, industry news, networking, CPD, and much more. Join the association today to stay connected and ahead in the field.

🔥 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝟭𝟬

𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲-𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘇 sits down with 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻 of  SatelliteApplicationsCatapult  and explores the facilities and capabilities at the DTDC, now one of the CAA pre-approved Testing Centres for drones. They also discuss the Satellite Applications Catapult organisation’s broader role within the UK’s emerging drone test and evaluation landscape.

The DTDC centre is a secure environment to test and evaluate drone products and services, including capabilities that will support pilot training and remote flight operations. Westcott, as a former RAF airfield without general aviation, features multiple open flying areas, no conflicting traffic, and low residential density - making it an ideal location for uncrewed specialist companies to test and develop their vehicles and sensors.

Phil outlines how Satellite Applications Catapult supports companies developing autonomous and space-linked technologies - helping organisations move from early-stage concepts through to scalable systems. As one of three UK sites able to support testing of modified or yet unproven platforms, they help to support a pathway through the SORA process that can reduce typical requirements, easing the challenges faced by SMEs and startups undertaking early test and evaluation activities, and offering the same streamlined framework to established companies with more complex requirements.

The discussion also touches on the wider facilities available at the site, such as clean rooms, workshops, hangars, laboratories, zero-gravity simulation robotics area, a 10×10m indoor drone test cage, and urban ranges for sensor and LiDAR calibration. Beyond the physical infrastructure, Catapult draws on expertise across areas including software engineering, Earth observation, additive manufacturing, robotics, and PNT (positioning, navigation & timing).Phil provides useful context on how the Catapult fits alongside other UK test locations, including Snowdonia Aerospace Centre and WholeShip in Cornwall. Each site offers different strengths, and together they contribute to a more connected national testing framework - from early proof-of-concept work within VLOS through to advanced BVLOS trials and more. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, Phil also outlines how to engage with the Catapult team through their website and initial contact channels.

🔗 Get in touch with the DTDC team – [email protected]

✉️ Get in touch with ARPAS-UK – [email protected]

****🎯 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

For insight, influence and industry connection. 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱.****

👉 Become a member of the UK's association for the commercial drone industry! Join Now: https://arpas.uk/join-arpas-uk/

** 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 **

𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://arpas.uk/

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻: /arpas-uk

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸: /ukarpas

𝗫: /arpasuk

At ARPAS-UK, we’re dedicated to supporting the UK’s commercial drone industry through webinars, industry news, networking, CPD, and much more. Join the association today to stay connected and ahead in the field.

Join Craig Roberts, Head of Aerial Intelligence & Innovation at PwC UK and lead author of the newly released UK Drone Regulations and Net Risk report, for a strategic discussion on accelerating the commercialisation and safe, scalable adoption of drone technology in UK agriculture. The new report was published in September 2025.

This session builds on the report’s findings by reframing the debate from isolated aviation risk to the concept of Net Risk, demonstrating how drones actively reduce overall harm and save lives by replacing dangerous traditional methods. We explore the case for ‘Picking Winners’: focusing regulatory and commercial effort on high-benefit, low-risk use cases like crop spraying and seeding to deliver fast, tangible growth.

This event is a crucial platform for operators and stakeholders to understand the strategic direction, economic vision, and clear pathway for agricultural drone innovation and for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations in particular to become the scalable, efficient standard for UK farming.

This web series is in conjunction with the ARPAS-UK Agri-Environment Special Interest Group. You can also find more Drones in Agriculture related content here at ARPAS-UK. If you would like to get in touch with the Special Interest Group at ARPAS-UK, please contact [email protected]

This session is part of our eight-part web series ‘Agri-Tech Frontiers‘. You can find out what’s coming up next by visiting the ARPAS-UK website!

ARPAS-UK CEO, Anne-Lise Scaillierez and Director of Regulation & Policy, Craig Lippett discuss the circumstances surrounding the recent establishment of a Temporary Danger Area (TDA) in London.

The discussion centres around the principle of equitable use of airspace for ARPAS-UK members and the wider UK drone community and how emergency services use of airspace can impact and limit the operational freedom of commercial drone operators to deliver services.

If TDA airspace is established in response to an emergency event, that is one thing. If it is being used to support routine training and testing operations that are not critically important and are in place on a long term basis, then that is a different thing altogether.

Come and view the discussion to see the ARPAS-UK view point on this event and what we think we should do in the future.

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🎯 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

For insight, influence and industry connection. 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱.

****

** 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 **

𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: ⁠https://arpas.uk/⁠

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻: ⁠/arpas-uk ⁠

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸: ⁠/ukarpas ⁠

𝗫: ⁠/arpasuk ⁠

Simon 'Smudger' Smith speaks with Anne-Lise Scaillierez of ARPAS-UK...

As Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations expand in scale and complexity, airspace segregation remains a central topic for both regulators and industry.

In this Fireside Chat 08, Simon “Smudger” Smith from Black Swan S&L joins ARPAS-UK’s Anne-Lise Scaillierez to unpack the current framework for segregated airspace in the UK – including Temporary Danger Areas (TDA), Temporary Reserved Areas (TRA), Temporary Segregated Areas (TSA), and Transponder Mandatory Zones (TMZ).

The discussion explores how these airspace constructs enable safe BVLOS trials, while also considering the challenges they pose for scalability, and how they could evolve so that UAS or Drone BVLOS operation can be implemented at scale within flexible forms of segregation or no segregation at all.

Join us for an engaging, accessible conversation bridging regulation, technology, and operational experience.

𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶-𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 | 𝟬𝟭

With:

𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 | Jo Bellett - Chair of ARPAS-UK's Agri-Environment SIG & Aleks Kowalski

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 | Rob Pearson & Andy Sproson

AutoSpray Systems and ARPAS-UK came together for a landmark digital event to explore how pioneering drone technology is transforming both environmental conservation and UK agriculture. This one-hour session served as a launchpad for the first commercial use of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations at scale.

The event brought together key players from AutoSpray Systems and ARPAS-UK to discuss the vital role of BVLOS operations in creating a commercially viable agri-drone industry and training the skilled professionals needed to support it. The conversation offered a unique look into AutoSpray’s pioneering BVLOS operations and their application in ecological restoration efforts, setting a new standard for conservation.

This web series is in conjunction with the ARPAS-UK Agri-Environment Special Interest Group. You can also find more Drones in Agriculture related content at ARPAS-UK. If you would like to get in touch with the Special Interest Group at ARPAS-UK, please contact [email protected]

It also highlighted AutoSpray’s commitment to supporting the UK’s agri-drone industry and the launch of their new BVLOS course.

🔥 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴

Explore the Beyond Restoration project in more detail on the AutoSpray Systems website

👉 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Get a flavour of the extreme conditions and large-scale projects AutoSpray Systems tackle on their YouTube channel. And see the VLOS reforestation project in the Scottish Highlands, referenced by Rob and Andy

🚀 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆

Stay up to date with every milestone of the Beyond Restoration project by following AutoSpray Systems on LinkedIn:

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆

𝗥𝗼𝗯 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻

𝗔𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗻

📺 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 - To find out more

The Agri-Tech Frontiers journey is just beginning. Join us for our next events as we chart the future of agri-drones in the UK.

⭐ 𝗔𝗚𝗥𝗜-𝗘𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗜𝗚 @ 𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗔𝗦-𝗨𝗞 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Providing a collaborative forum to explore how drone technology supports precision farming, crop health assessment, soil and water management, habitat mapping, biodiversity monitoring and conservation. Find out more at: https://arpas.uk

We speak with Adan Hiroli, Show Director of DroneX Trade Show & Conference, who shares more about this year's upcoming DroneX 2025 and why it continues to attract such a broad range of key professionals from across the UAV | UAS sectors.

For sure, not an event to be missed! ARPAS-UK will be there again this in 2025 and we're looking forward to seeing you all!

🎟️ 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗬

Free to attend for industry professionals, DroneX Trade Show & Conference is an opportunity to network, explore new developments, and engage with the evolving landscape of uncrewed aviation.

Visit the DroneX site to learn more and secure your ticket booking! www.dronexpo.co.uk

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🎯 Join ARPAS-UK The UK Drone Association

For insight, influence and industry connection. United. Informed. Heard.

www.arpas.uk

****

Anne-Lise Scaillierez (Director, CEO) and Craig Lippett (Director of Policy & Regulation) of ARPAS-UK share the latest updates following the UK implementation of UK SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment), with a particular focus on Multi-Site and Multi-UAS SORA approvals. This reflects ARPAS-UK’s routine engagement with its members and with the RPAS policy team at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

ARPAS-UK is keen to disseminate updates to the broader community on key matters. That particular topic of multi-site multi-UAS was one of the most important concerns within the UK drone community in the Specific Category wrt UK SORA applications, and we're pleased to share positive feedback on the matter.

This fireside chat's content follows the members-only Online Meeting held on 6th June, where ARPAS-UK members joined Craig Lippett to discuss and put forward questions about the current progress and direction of UK SORA.

🔗 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://www.arpas.uk/online-event-register-for-uk-sora-arpas-uk-members-update-and-qa-6-june/

👉 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝘁? 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀: https://arpas.uk

📩 Questions? We're here to help industry, you can contact us at: 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻@𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗮𝘀.𝘂𝗸