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BASIS has launched an accreditation
for pilots of Unmanned Aerial
Systems (UAS) or drones in
response to the increasing use of this
technology in agriculture.
The new BASIS Agricultural
Awareness for Unmanned Aerial
Systems (UAS) Operators module,
launched at LAMMA, is a standalone course which will provide drone
pilots with appropriate agricultural
knowledge and understanding,
to ensure best practice and safe
operation.
Dr Richard Green, Senior Lecturer
and Academic Lead - National
Centre for Precision Farming (NCPF)
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
Interest Group said: “UAS or drones
are rapidly changing the science of
farm and land management. While
this technology offers exciting new
opportunities for land and farm
management, they need to be used
an injured horse lost its foal in Dyfed,
effectively and in a safe manner.”
Wales.
“Users need to understand how
Figures released under a Freedom of
they can get the most out of these
Information Act request showed the
systems in order to get the best
MoD paid out £1.1m in compensation
financial returns on investments in
last year due to low-flying incidents.
this technology. They also need to
An MoD spokesman said: “The MOD
be aware of the rapidly developing
takes the issue of safe low flying
legislation regarding their use and
extremely seriously and understands
safe operation, as insurers are unlikely
that military low flying can be noisy
to cover the cost of damage or injuries
and unpopular but it is an essential
caused by untrained operators.”
part of operational training.
BASIS is working in conjunction
“The MoD is constantly striving to
with Harper Adams University run
ensure that such disturbance is kept
National Centre for Precision Farming
to an absolute minimum and that the
and leading members of the UAS
burden of noise pollution is as evenly
industry to develop a range of suitable
distributed as possible throughout the
training courses to address this new
UK Low Flying System as a whole.
accreditation requirement.
“In order to ensure that military low
The one day course will cover topics
flying is as accountable to the public
such as farming and farm practices,
as possible, the MoD provides the
agricultural supply chain, crops and
Low Flying Complaints Enquiry
crop management and legislation
Unit, located at RAF Wittering, which
(agricultural legislation, data
allows the public to report low-flying
protection and health and safety).
incidents which have raised concern.”
“UAS or drones, combined with
Poultry farmer paid £18,000 after
birds scared by MoD choppers
A chicken farmer received more than
£18,000 in compensation after lowflying helicopters scared his birds
from laying eggs.
The farmer, from Ninfield, Sussex,
was handed £18,708 from the
Ministry of Defence (MoD) after
he claimed his birds stopped laying
because they were frightened by
the loud noise of low-flying Apache
helicopters.
Four other poultry farmers who
claimed their egg production suffered
because of noisy military helicopters
were also handed money from the
MoD, the Daily Mail reported.
Other poultry farmers claimed their
birds were so frightened by loud MoD
helicopter noises that they trampled
one another to death.
Meanwhile, the MoD paid £42,700
compensation to a farmer in County
Tyrone, Northern Ireland, whose
cows died after being scared by a
Puma helicopter, and £20,000 after
Drones 'rapidly changing'
agriculture
developments in sensors, image
processing, and management software
are rapidly changing the science of
farm and land management. While
this technology offers exciting new
opportunities for land and farm
management, they need to be used
effectively and in a safe manner,” said
Dr Green.
“Users need to understand how
they can get the most out of these
systems in order to get the best
financial returns on investments in
this technology. They also need to
be aware of the rapidly developing
legislation regarding their use and
safe operation, as insurers are unlikely
to cover the cost of damage or injuries
caused by untrained operators.”
BASIS is working in conjunction
with Harper Adams University run
National Centre for Precision Farming
and leading members of the UAS
industry to develop a range of suitable
training courses to address this new
accreditation requirement.
Stephen Jacob, business development
manager for BASIS, said: “The
number of drones being used in
agriculture has increased rapidly in
recent years and some companies and
UAS pilots who offer data collection
services will not have come from an
agricultural background. As a member
of the Unmanned Aerial Systems
Special Interest Group, BASIS
was asked to put together a form of
accreditation for UAV pilots working
within the agricultural industry.
“The new Agricultural Awareness
training course has been developed
for UAS pilots and professionals
who work in related areas, such as
machinery manufacturers, employees
of sensors manufacturer and
distributors. Successful completion
of the course and exam will be a step
towards accreditation,” he said.