Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T12:32:23.109Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A proposed reference framework for unmanned aerial vehicle and system airworthiness requirements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

A. Maneschijn
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering Stellenbosch University, South Africa
T. Jones
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering Stellenbosch University, South Africa
T. W. von Backström
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering Stellenbosch University, South Africa
L. A. Ingham
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Abstract

Various programmes are underway internationally to establish legislative instruments for regulating civil and military unmanned aerial vehicles and systems. An analysis of a selection of these programmes revealed that the approaches used for airworthiness regulation are not harmonised and are usually limited to specific unmanned aerial vehicle types, indicating the need for a generic framework for airworthiness requirements. A functional Reference Framework for unmanned aerial vehicle and system airworthiness requirements was developed using Annex 8 of the Chicago Convention as a reference basis, supplemented with airworthiness procedures and functional requirements derived from manned aircraft regulations, unmanned aerial vehicle and system airworthiness material, and flightworthiness guidelines for reusable launch vehicles. Various airworthiness elements were identified for which further research is required to develop appropriate airworthiness requirements. This paper summarises the development of the framework and proposes the Reference Framework as a functional basis for generating comprehensive South African civil and military airworthiness requirements for unmanned aerial vehicles and systems.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2007 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. USA Federal Aviation Administration, Policy AFS-400 UAS Policy 05-01, Unmanned aircraft systems operations in the U.S. national airspace system – interim operational Approval Guidance, 16 September 2005.Google Scholar
2. Van Blyenburgh, P. and Butterworth-Hayes, P., UVS International Yearbook: UAV Systems – The Global Perspective 2006/2007, van Blyenburgh & Co, Paris, June 2006, pp 8, 12, 26, 34, 156.Google Scholar
3. Ingham, L.A., Jones, T. and Maneschijn, A., Certification of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in South African Airspace, SAIME R&D Other, Johannesburg, 2006.Google Scholar
4. Van Blyenburgh, P. and Butterworth-Hayes, P., UVS International Yearbook: UAV Systems – The Global Perspective 2006/2007, Van Blyenburgh & Co, Paris, June 2006 p. 7.Google Scholar
5. UVS International – News Flash. 05june10_easa_euro_faa.pdf, downloaded via Access Website www.access5.aero/site_content/news_a5.html (10 june 2005 item), cited 6 June 2006,Google Scholar
6. ICAO Exploratory Meeting on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Montréal, Canada, 23-24 May 2006, Summary of Discussions, ICAO-UAV WP/2. Montréal, May 2006.Google Scholar
7. Ingham, L.A., Jones, T. and Maneschijn, A., Considerations for UAV design and operation in South African airspace, Aeronaut J, October 2006, 110, (1112), pp 695701.Google Scholar
8. Ingham, L.A., Jones, T. and Maneschijn, A., Considerations for flight testing of UAVs in South African airspace, Aeronaut J, December 2006, 110, (1114), pp 803812.Google Scholar
9. Convention on International Civil Aviation, (Doc 7300) 8th edition, 2000, International Civil Aviation Organization.Google Scholar
10. Maneschijn, A., Developing a feasible engineering policy to ensure continued aviation safety in the South African Air Force, University of the Witwatersrand, 2002.Google Scholar
11. United Kingdom Department of Transport (Aviation), Glossary of useful terms, www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_aviation/documents/page/dft_aviation_025899.hcsp, cited 17 November 2006.Google Scholar
12. Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Airworthiness of Aircraft, 9th edition, July 2001, International Civil Aviation Organization.Google Scholar
13. Marais, W.J. and Maneschijn, A., Military aviation Authority: a South African perspective, October 2006, South African Air Force Presentation Paper, 2006 International Military Aviation Authorities Conference, Cologne, Germany, 2006.Google Scholar
14. European Military Aviation Authorities Group (EMAAG), EMAAG Presentation, (EMAAG[1].ppt) Dutch Military Aviation Authority, 2004.Google Scholar
15. USA Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Regulations. FAR Part 21 – Certification Procedures for Products and Parts.Google Scholar
16. USA Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Regulations. FAR Part 25 – Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Airplanes.Google Scholar
17. USA Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Regulations. FAR Part 29 – Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Rotorcraft.Google Scholar
18. Working Paper 13 of The Sixteenth Meeting of the ICAO APANPIRG ATM/AIS/SAR Sub-Group, Bangkok, Thailand, 26-30 June 2006, Agenda Item 4, ATM/AIS/SAR/SG/16?WP/13, Bangkok, June 2006.Google Scholar
19. Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, UAV Design Standards -Rotorcraft (Draft), Version 2.2, 26 May 2000.Google Scholar
20. Staff Writers and Blackman S. Attack of the drones, Flight Safety Australia, November-December 2002.Google Scholar
21. Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 101, Unmanned Aircraft and Rocket Operations, 1st Edition, July 2002.Google Scholar
22. NASA ERAST Certification Alliance, High altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles certification and regulatory roadmap.Google Scholar
23. The Joint JAA/EUROCONTROL Initiative on UAVs, UAV TASK-FORCE Final Report; A concept for european regulations for civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 11 May 2004.Google Scholar
24. United States Department of the Army, Army Regulation 95-23, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Regulations.Google Scholar
25. UK Civil Aviation Authority – Directorate of Airspace Policy, CAP 722 – Guidance for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations in UK airspace, 2nd Edition, 12 November 2004.Google Scholar
26. French Délégation Générale des Armements, UAV Systems airworthiness requirements (USAR), Version 3.0, 20 January 2005.Google Scholar
27. European Aviation Safety Agency, CS-23, Certification Specifications for Normal, Utility, Aerobatic, and Commuter Category Aeroplanes.Google Scholar
28. Canadian Department of National Defence, UAV System Airworthiness Requirements (USARs) – Canadian Review and Input, www.uvscanada.org/documents/USAR_v3.0.pdf, cited 12 July 2006.Google Scholar
29. The Japan UAV Association, UVS International, UAV Systems – The Global Perspective 2005, June 2005.Google Scholar
30. The Japan UAV Association, Introduction, www.juav.org/contents/introduction_juav.html, Cited 19 October 2005.Google Scholar
31. Safety standards for commercial-Use Unmanned Rotary-Wing Aircraft in Uninhabited Areas. Japan UAV Association. www.juav.org/contents/juav_safety_standards.pdf. Cited 5 October 2005.Google Scholar
32. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Advance-notice of Proposed Amendment. A-NPA No. 16/2005, Policy for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Certification, 7 November 2005.Google Scholar
24. RTCA, Inc. Committee SC-203, Unmanned Aircraft Systems. www.rtca.org/comm/Committee.cfm?id=45, cited 2 June 2006.Google Scholar
25. ASTM International, Technical Committee F38 on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/COMMIT/COMMITTEE/F38.htm?L+mystore+lraa5749, Cited 23 March 2006.Google Scholar
25. Van Blyenburgh, P. and Butterworth-Hayes, P., UVS International Yearbook: UAV Systems – The Global Perspective 2006/2007, Van Blyenburgh & Co. Paris, June 2006 p. 3436.Google Scholar
26. Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap 2005-2030, USA Department of Defence, 20 July 2005.Google Scholar
27. Cox, T.H., Nagy, C.J., Skoog, M.A. and Somers, I.A., Civil UAV capability assessment, Draft version, December 2004.Google Scholar
28. The USA Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, ast.faa.gov/, cited 20 May 2006.Google Scholar
29. USA Department of Transportation, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Chapter III, Commercial Space Transportation: Licensing Regulations.Google Scholar
30. USA Department of Transportation, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Licensing, Regulations & Regulatory Activity: Statute, Regulations, Advisory Circulars & Notices.Google Scholar
31. USA Department of Transportation, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Spaceport news: Presentation for the Launch Operations and Support Working Group.Google Scholar
32. USA National Archives and Records Administration, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR), Title 14 – Aeronautics and Space. Chapter III – Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, 12 September 2006.Google Scholar
33. USA Department of Transportation, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, 14CFR, Part 437: Experimental Permits for Reusable Suborbital Rockets: Proposed Rule, 31 March 2006.Google Scholar
34. Kennedy, J.J. Is international and municipal law congruous to the development of fledgling commercial space businesses? 25 April 2006. www.newmexicospacealliance.org/pdffiles/legalbrief1.pdf, cited 25 May 2006.Google Scholar
35. The USA Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Guide to commercial reusable launch vehicle operations and maintenance version 1.0, March 2005.Google Scholar
36. RTI International Center for Aerospace Technology, RTI Report No. RTI/08087.002/Task 1.5-01F, Reusable launch vehicles operations and maintenance top-down analysis – final technical report, 20 December 2002.Google Scholar
37. The USA Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, Licensing, Regulations & Regulatory Activity: Statutes, Regulations, Advisory Circulars & Notices.Google Scholar
38. USA Department of Transportation, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Compilation of AST Regulations – 14 CFR Chapter III, Prepared by AST, 13 March 2005.Google Scholar
39. DeGarmo, M.T., Issues concerning integration of unmanned aerial vehicles in civil airspace, Report MP 04W0000323, Mitre Center for Advanced Aviation System Development, November 2004.Google Scholar
40. Walker, J. and Kenagy, R., Preparing UAV-Related Standards RTCA Special Committee 203. www.access5.aero/site_content/news/pdf/editorial_20apr05_rtca.pdf. Cited 10 October 2005.Google Scholar
41. International Civil Aviation Organization, Model Aviation Regulatory Document: Law, Regulations, and Implementing Standards and Training, Fourth Meeting of Directors of Civil Aviation of the Central Caribbean, May 2000.Google Scholar
42. USA Federal Aviation Administration, Advisory Circulars (AC) 25.795-1, Flightdeck Intrusion Resistance, and AC 25.795-2, Flightdeck Penetration Resistance, 15 January 2002.Google Scholar
43. USA Department of Transportation, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, 14 CFR Parts 413, 415, and 417, Licensing and Safety Requirements for Launch – Frequently Asked Questions, Docket No FAA-2000-7953, 21 February 2001.Google Scholar
44. USA Department of Transportation, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Guide to commercial reusable launch vehicle operations and maintenance, version 1.0, March 2005.Google Scholar
45. Guide to the Identification of Safety-Critical Hardware Items for Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Developers. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. 1 May 2005.Google Scholar
46. USA Department of Transportation, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Guide to Reusable Launch and Reentry Vehicle Software and Computing System Safety, Version 1.0. July 2006.Google Scholar
47. Haddon, D.R and Whittaker, C.J., Aircraft Airworthiness certification standards for civil UAVs, Aeronaut J, 107, (1068), February 2003 pp 7986.Google Scholar
48. European Aviation Safety Agency, CS-29, Certification Specifications for Large Rotorcraft. www.easa.eu.int/home/index.html. Google Scholar
49. South African Air Force, Draft South African military aviation Regulations Part 21 – Certification procedures for airborne aviation hardware.Google Scholar
50. South African Air Force, Draft South African military aviation regulations Part 24 – approval procedures and airworthiness requirements for non-type certified light airborne hardware.Google Scholar