In Broadcast - December 2017 - 32
32 www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 7 - Issue 12 | December 2017 InFocus A Breath Of Air Even complex systems are becoming more 'plug and play' As to developments in drone technology, Tilly suggests: "It used to be that SUAS were somewhat fidgety, complicated systems, that only the operator could possibly understand. The technology has moved in a direction that is far more intuitive. Systems today have the operator in mind, ease of use is a selling point. Operators don't want to allocate an hour's rig time at the start of a shoot day so systems are becoming much more 'plug and play' There are a few very good off-the-shelf solutions out there now that can deliver excellent broadcast quality images." cont'd... Safe Operations Meanwhile, with a number of 'near misses' reported near major airports, there has been considerable publicity concerning where and when drone operators should be allowed to operate, with the UK government promising to bring in appropriate legislation. Drone users in the UK may have to take safety awareness tests under legislation planned by the government. Drones weighing more than 250g could also be banned from flying near airports, or above 400ft, in a crackdown on unsafe flying. Police will also be given new powers to seize and ground drones which may have been used in criminal activity. The Bill has been welcomed by the pilots' union, which has warned of near misses involving drones and aircraft. Balpa says there had been 81 incidents so far this year - up from 71 in 2016 and 29 in 2015. The union's General Secretary, Brian Strutton, said: "These proposals are a step towards the safe integration of drones, but until the new rules are in place the threat of a serious collision remains." In July a drone flew directly over the wing of a large passenger jet as it came into land at London's Gatwick Airport, which a report said had put 130 lives at risk. "The latest developments in drone regulations in the UK have been geared towards domestic flyers and non-commercial operators typically using smaller SUAS or systems more suitable described as toys," says Rob Tilly. "The proposed introduction of registrations and safety courses will not affect the vast majority of commercial operators. Its aim is to make the skies a bit safer, and I believe it will." Helicopter Film Services' Jeremy Braben says that legislation is needed. "The 'wild west' that currently exists sees quite a few cowboy outfits springing up and whilst some have done the training with NQE organisations and have a PFCO (permission for commercial operations), they don't appear to have an understanding of the law and safety. Others simply choose to ignore the requirements altogether. The legislation won't affect those companies and operators who currently perform their tasks in the proper manner, with the correct equipment and experienced crews." Pocock affirms: "Most legal operators with their (PFCO) already safely adhere to the rules of flying drones. The regulation coming in is aimed more at stopping some fella buying a drone ... and flying it around an airport. There will always be idiots so hopefully this legislation will put them off or at least make them think before flying." Trusted: HFS has managed to obtain permission to operate even where strict controls are in place InTech Appear Revamps Website Joins TICO Alliance A ppear TV has launched a revamped website with an emphasis on streamlined content that matches Appear's forward-thinking technology. Appear focused on condensing the site's features to improve ease of navigation. The site's product information pages have been reorganized into sleek, compartmentalised displays that highlight each product's key features and provide easy access to datasheets. In addition, its products are organised by market segment to easily identify what products are applicable in the different markets it serves, from terrestrial to OTT, and more. Visitors to the site will be able to more easily locate the details they need while still having the option to understand Appear's products at a deeper level, with click-throughs to advanced product specifications. Additionally, Appear has combined the News and Events pages from the previous version of the site. The fresh design consolidates content to better showcase pertinent information in a more visually appealing manner. This includes detailed updates on Appear's latest trade show appearances, including complete exhibitor information on the company's upcoming presence at CABSAT 2018 in Dubai this January. "Our goal was to restructure the content to make a more accessible site. The latest Appear products and solutions that were not featured on the old page have of course been added, and we've modernised our logo," said Carl Walter Holst, CEO of Appear. "By presenting the most important features with a modern, attractive design, our site will now provide our customers with key information more efficiently. As the company and its product lines evolve, our new site gives us a modern platform to tell our story." In other news, Appear recently announced that it has joined the TICO Alliance to support interoperability for broadcast IP migration. The TICO Alliance is an open coalition of companies united to set the bar for next generation UHDTV infrastructure by establishing TICO compression in the new IP-based live ecosystem. "Joining TICO will enable us to foster a shared commitment to equipping broadcasters with a seamless, integrated and high-quality UltraHD ecosystem," said Holst. "Our membership in the Alliance will further embolden Appear's standing as a Appear's new-look website leader in the broadcast technology industry." Adding the TICO lightweight compression to the Appear X10 and X20 product range will allow premium quality UHD transport over 10G IP networks or legacy 3G-SDI links with a minimum of latency. As a purpose-built hardware solution specifically designed for IP transport, the synergies of TICO compression and the capacity of the X platform optimises network bandwidth usage while upholding video quality at a premium level.