White Waltham Airfield streamlines drone flight applications with Altitude Angel

 

 

SUMMARY:

White Waltham case study

A cumbersome flight request process solved

White Waltham Airfield, a busy hub for general aviation, was facing a growing challenge in managing drone flight applications within its Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ). Drone pilots who wanted to fly in the area had to submit requests via email, which often led to long back and forth exchanges between the airfield and drone operator. This manual process was not only time consuming but also unnecessarily complicated, particularly when verifying flight details and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. 

With a number of wedding venues and increased commercial drone activity within the FRZ during periods of fine weather, the busy summer months and over weekends, the airfield’s Operations team found it increasingly difficult to manage these requests while maintaining the high standards required for airfield safety. The lack of a centralised system for handling drone applications created unnecessary complexity, costing the airfield and drone operators time and resource. 

It became clear a more streamlined, efficient solution was needed to manage the growing volume of drone operations safely and effectively.

UAVs increasing in operation within the FRZ of White Waltham Airfield

Implementing GuardianUTM Approval Services

To solve this problem, White Waltham Airfield decided to implement Altitude Angel’s GuardianUTM solution, a leading Unified Traffic Management (UTM) technology. The decision to work with Altitude Angel was largely influenced by Airfield Manager Catherine Smith, who had heard positive feedback from other users about the platform’s user-friendly interface and strong customer support. 

After an initial meeting, the airfield team was confident that the system could meet their needs. Altitude Angel’s GuardianUTM Approval Services solution allowed for an improved, digital process, where drone pilots could submit their flight requests directly through the platform, complete with all the necessary information and paperwork in a centralised location. This vastly improved the approval process for both parties and provided a complete audit trail of all communications and decisions. 

The cloud-based system was deployed quickly and seamlessly, and the airfield integrated the Drone Safety Map into their website, automatically focusing on the White Waltham FRZ. This integration made it easy for drone operators to access the flight request system.

Drone Safety Map location of White Waltham Airfield

 

A more efficient and scalable system

 

“It was very important to us that the platform was easy to use from both the airfield and the drone operators perspective in order to smoothly handle drone operations in the local area.”

 

The introduction of GuardianUTM Approval Services platform brought a host of benefits to White Waltham Airfield, transforming their drone flight application process into a much more efficient and effective system.
 
Ease of use was one of the first benefits both airfield staff and drone pilots noticed. It was important for the airfield that this system not only benefited them, but the drone operators too. They required a planning interface that was clear and straightforward, allowing operators to submit requests quickly with all the necessary details and documentation uploads in one place. For the airfield team, having everything in one centralised location eliminated the need for follow-up communications and manual data entry, significantly simplifying their workflow.

Commercial drone in operation

The system’s automatic recording of flight details made it easy for the airfield to track and review applications. By centralising these records, it removed the inefficiencies of managing requests through email and transformed what had been a cumbersome process. This centralised system also provided a complete audit trail of communications and decisions, making administration simpler and allowing all team members to quickly check the status of any planned or ongoing flights. 

Keeping everything organised in one place also made the process considerably faster. Instead of dealing with lengthy email threads and manual follow-ups, the airfield could approve most requests almost immediately. This newfound efficiency allowed the Operations team to concentrate on other essential tasks. 

Furthermore, as drone use in the area continues to grow, the scalability of GuardianUTM Approval Services platform ensures that White Waltham can accommodate new requests without major impact on their workload. The system’s capacity to handle a rising number of applications with ease makes it an invaluable tool for future-proofing the airfield’s drone operations. 

Operations Manager dashboard for White Waltham Airfield

 

A successful solution

 

“The team at Altitude Angel were incredibly helpful, not only in successfully implementing the platform but also in working with us to find effective solutions to our challenges.”

 

The implementation of Approval Services has enabled the transformation in the way White Waltham Airfield manages drone flight applications. By streamlining the process and introducing a user friendly approval platform, the airfield has not only improved efficiency but also created new commercial opportunities. The project’s success highlights the importance of using the right technology to solve operational challenges, and Altitude Angel proved to be the perfect choice. 

If you need an easier way to manage drone flights in your airspace, speak to a member of our team today:

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