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Charlotte Bailey

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has strongly implied that ADS-B Out electronic conspicuity (EC) will soon become mandatory for all aircraft operating in the UK’s lower airspace. An updated concept of operations will be published in late 2026 or early 2027 following an ongoing review.
In a new document (<a href="https://www.caa.co.uk/publication/download/27011">CAP 3217</a>) published March 2, the regulator outlined that increased integration of beyond-visual-line-of-sight drones will require all airspace users to adopt enhanced safety measures. Notably, “manned aircraft operating at higher speeds require higher-performance EC devices, primarily capable of providing extended detection range to support timely avoidance maneuvers,” it explained. “Expecting unmanned aircraft to detect manned aircraft without an EC solution is not currently possible.”
The CAA set out nine evidence-based positions for the role of EC in UK airspace via its initial consultation, published in 2025, which it said “provide a realistic and proportionate pathway for successful adoption.” More than 800 survey responses were received, including 49% from the general aviation community—who, although “recognized and generally valued the potential for EC,” also highlighted concerns “particularly regarding the practicality, proportionality, and costs associated with equipage requirements.”
Within non-segregated airspace—defined as “the volumes of UK airspace where BVLOS UAS will be operating alongside other airspace users, with EC acting as a mitigation”—aircraft operating at speeds greater than 140 kts must use an ADS-B Out transponder with Mode S functionality. ADS-B In will remain optional, the CAA said.
Several respondents also voiced concern that a one-size-fits-all solution resembling a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) would be inappropriate, commenting that “integrating lower-power EC devices with TCAS could lead to excessive alerts and traffic display distractions for manned aircraft operators to manage.”

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