THE use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to help combat the threat of flooding has been given the official go-ahead to operate on a commercial basis by The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Urban flood specialist Richard Allitt Associates (RAA), based in Haywards Heath, has pioneered the use of UAVs, having worked alongside the Environment Agency and a number of water companies, including Severn Trent and Thames Water. His new remote aerial survey business (www.remoteaerialsurveys.co.uk) already has three qualified pilots and a number of UAVs capable of carrying imaging equipment designed to conduct diverse aerial surveys.
Mr Allitt said that obtaining the permission of the CAA is not a simple process, and operators must prove that public safety is a fundamental concern.
