![The London Heliport Altitude Angel UTM](https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/london-heli-press-image-300x202.png)
by DRONELIFE Staff Author Ian M. Crosby
UTM (Unified Traffic Management) technology leader Altitude Angel has announced that The London Heliport shall be deploying its Approval Services platform. This platform enables drone operators, and shortly eVTOL pilots as well, to request and pay for operations digitally through the heliport’s airspace with the touch of a button.
Starting today, Approval Services, which was described on its launch by Aviation Minister Baroness Vere as, ‘a key step to [the UK] achieving its ambitious outcomes we’re setting through the Way forward for Flight Industry Group’, provides drone operators with the flexibility to quickly and securely submit flight plans inside The London Heliport’s FRZ, along with facilitating charges put in place by the heliport when a flight is approved.
Altitude Angel has previously been providing The London Heliport with a combined view of the airspace within the vicinity of its FRZ (flight restriction zone), granting the heliport the flexibility to digitally approve or decline drone operations through Altitude Angel’s digital authorisation and flight management technology.
The London Heliport has an intensive history of pioneering aviation dating back over 60 years, starting in 1959. It’s currently London’s only CAA licensed heliport, offering a vital service to the business community in addition to local emergency services just like the London Air Ambulance (HEMS).
“The London Heliport has a special place within the history of aviation and Altitude Angel is incredibly proud to be a part of a brand new chapter within the heliport’s continued development,” said Altitude Angel COO Chris Forster. “The drone and concrete air mobility industries shall be a part of a brand new aviation ecosystem which might benefit from the heliport’s unique central London location.”
“The heliport’s location is a major area for drone activity and inside its FRZ, may have over 500 authorised drone flights a 12 months. Managing these applications and having an overall picture of what is occurring day after day has at all times been a challenge,” said The London Heliport’s Operations Manager Matthew Rice. “This is the reason our relationship with Altitude Angel has been pivotal in having a sturdy application process that helps us to observe and process them easily. ‘Situational Awareness’ allows our Air Traffic Control to have a greater understanding of what activity is planned and approved throughout the FRZ on the day. This helps us to attempt to achieve our ultimate goal of ensuring all helicopters operating out and in of the heliport are made aware of any drone operations and kept protected.”
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