About
Owen graduated from Loughborough University with an MEng in Aeronautical Engineering in 2009 and a PhD in 2013. His thesis focused on the safe integration of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) into complex civilian airspace and was awarded the Royal Aeronautical Society UAS Innovation Award for the novel approach to understanding artificial situation awareness. Following this he has worked on research projects ranging from safety verification of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based UAS control systems through to the development of bespoke UAS for monitoring endangered wildlife.
His practical experience with UAS extends to the approval of numerous novel operations by various international aviation authorities, including Multiple Simultaneous Operations (MSO) and Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Owen has provided engineering and safety consultancy to a number of organisations internationally and is actively engaged with the policymaking teams within the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). He is a founding member of SEAD Artists, a consortium of partners developing the use of UAS for environmental and agricultural purposes, such as the Drone RePeat project undertaking peatland restoration which achieved a UK first BVLOS approval in 2025. He has provided assistance to the British Transport Police (BTP) leading to them becoming the first police force with an operational Drone-In-A-Box (DIAB) capability in the UK.
Working with the Association of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems UK in 2023 he developed an introductory training course in risk quantification for BVLOS operations which has been delivered to over 50 leading organisations including a number of police services. The course gave operators increased confidence in working under the newly launched Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) framework for UAS authorisation.
Prizes or Honours
- Written Paper Prize - Bronze Award (Royal Aeronautical Society, 2019)
- Unmanned Aerial Systems Innovation Award (Royal Aeronautical Society, 2012)