On Air brings you updates from the UK CAA's Innovation team which works with organisations to support new aviation related products and services. You'll hear about the latest work in areas such as advanced air mobility, UAS traffic management (UTM) and operating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) along with interviews from the experts involved in these projects.
Episodes
eVTOL: Exploring Future Flight today
13 Nov 2025 · 35 min
Advanced Air Mobility will see people and goods move between urban and regional areas using innovative aircraft like electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles. eVTOL offers the potential for new, faster and cleaner ways for people and goods to travel. In this episode we’re joined by…
AI in aerospace - the CAA’s response
28 Nov 2024 · 1 h 01
Automation and autonomy already play a key role in many aspects of aerospace, including autopilot and air traffic management, but the future is enabled by artificial intelligence (AI), and has the potential to impact every part of the aerospace sector. In this episode, we’re joined by James Bell,…
Study on London's future flight
20 Jul 2022 · 25 min
In this episode we talk with Brenden Hedblom from the Eve Consortium on its new concept of operations (CONOPS) into how future types of flying, such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, could be safety incorporated into London’s airspace. You can find more information on…
Trialling medical deliveries by drone during COVID-19 - Part 3 of 3
2 Nov 2021 · 28 min
In the third and final part of this series we look at how medical deliveries by drone could help support the health service in remote communities across the UK. We speak with Alex Brown, Head of Operations at Skyports about a recent trial that saw drones making medical deliveries between four NHS…
Trialling medical deliveries by drone during COVID-19 - Part 2 of 3
12 Oct 2021 · 34 min
In part two of our three part series we hear about a recent trial that explored using drones for medical deliveries, including essential PPE items, from Cornwall to remote communities on the Isles of Scilly. This project involved Royal Mail and a consortium funded by UK Research and Innovation…
Trialling medical deliveries by drone during COVID-19 - Part 1 of 3
22 Sept 2021 · 26 min
In this episode we begin a three part series that looks at how drones have been used to help the NHS response to COVID-19. We're joined by Simon Masters and Dawn MacGregor from UKRI (UK Research and Innovation), the UK's largest public funder of research and innovation. UKRI's work includes the…
Urban Air Traffic Management
2 Jun 2021 · 54 min
Electric air taxis, also called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), will soon be operational. These ‘green’ aircraft will deliver on-demand urban flights and make trips across cities quick, easy and more affordable. In this episode speak with Brenden Hedblom and David…
Future Air Mobility
26 Nov 2020 · 15 min
Angela and Sonia from our Innovation team discuss how we're working with innovators to look at the different concepts people are working on for future air mobility. That includes everything from the aircraft being developed to the systems that will support them. This builds up to our exciting…
Talking TEM (Threat and Error Management)
3 Nov 2020 · 24 min
Jonathan Nicholson and David Pratt talk Threat and Error Management with Amy Breckell and Neil Winbolt from the CAA's General Aviation unit. Links to more TEM information: CAA: Flight-crew human factors handbook (CAP737) - https://www.caa.co.uk/CAP737 Airspace & Safety Initiative: Avoiding…
Unmanned Traffic Management
18 Jun 2020 · 32 min
The concept of Unmanned Traffic Management, or UTM, has been developing over the last few years and sets out how unmanned vehicles can be safely integrated into the wider airspace system. This podcast gives an update on the UK's work in this area and the scale and breadth of impact that the…
Safety advice and tips for pilots returning to GA flying post COVID-19
22 May 2020 · 41 min
Jonathan Nicholson and David Pratt talk to Hannah Foskett and Neil Winbolt from the CAA's General Aviation unit about how to prepare to return to the air after a longer than usual break from recreational flying. More information from the CAA at www.caa.co.uk/CAP1919 and www.caa.co.uk/CAP1925
Social Licences for aviation innovators
21 Apr 2020 · 18 min
The innovation sector will play a key role for the aviation industry when the time comes for the recovery from COVID-19 to commence In our latest podcast, our innovation team discuss how vital social licences are, particularly for new innovative industries
How safe is recreational flying?
25 Feb 2020 · 16 min
CAA Assistant Director Jonathan Nicholson speaks to Tony Rapson and Geoffrey Podger, authors of a new independent safety review commissioned and funded by the Department for Transport. Their review assesses the current level of risk to private pilots, their passengers and third parties of…
Innovation, drones and recreational flying
8 Jan 2020 · 25 min
On Air is a podcast from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority featuring experts from across the aviation industry. You’ll hear how our Innovation team is working with organisations to support new aviation related products and services. About this episode In Episode 1 CAA Assistant Director Jonathan…