Showing proof positive that it continues to punch above its weight, (see June story) navigation and safety systems specialist Flare Bright Ltd has become the first developer of a flight termination system (FTS) to achieve a SAIL 2 certification from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for its Extera product.
SAIL (Specific Assurance and Integrity Level) verifies Extera FTS as a reliable safety system for UAS operations. Designed to ensure containment via an independent system, Extera allows operators to safely terminate a flight using manual activation, or automatically upon triggering key failure modes, such as the aircraft breaching an operator-defined geofence. This certification evidences Extera compliance with necessary safety requirements, unlocking a blocker to complex uncrewed operations. This allows Extera to be used to rapidly bring new UAS to market by providing a foundational safety layer for testing novel platforms in confined test ranges. It will also support the commercial UAS sector, enabling BVLOS operations in critical services, such as medical delivery or national infrastructure monitoring.
The CAA’s SAIL Mark is a risk-based assessment scheme for UAS. A SAIL Mark certificate provides an assurance that streamlines regulatory approval, fostering innovation and safety in UAV development by ensuring compliance with aviation safety standards.
The certification follows an independent assessment by Marshall Aerospace and is a significant milestone achievement for Flare Bright, validating its position at the forefront of autonomous aviation safety and supporting the commercial viability of Extera. In March this year, Extera was selected as one of five capabilities funded for a SAIL Mark assessment specifically with Marshall Aerospace. This was part of a wider grant programme established by the CAA, with funding from Innovate UK and the Department for Transport. Flare Bright’s success in evidencing the system’s compliance with CAA requirements and being awarded the SAIL Mark Certificate was built upon the foundations laid in the UKRI-funded Future Flight Phase 4 project ‘Containment with Confidence’.
“Achieving SAIL 2 certification is a step towards making Extera available as a commercial product. The team enjoyed working with Marshall and found their approach made the compliance process seamless,” commented Flare Bright CTO, Dr Carl Sequeira.” Mark Hewer, Director of Aero Engineering Services at Marshall Aerospace, added: “This achievement highlights how Marshall’s RAE(F) status and expertise enable new products to reach the market rapidly and safely.”
Main image shows a schematic of the Extera system installed on a typical drone. (Flare Bright Ltd)
