Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Considerations for Certification and Interoperability

U.S./Europe International Aviation Safety Conference

By: Doug Davis, FAA, and Yves Morier, EASA

Date: June 5, 2008

“Global Safety Management: Revolution or Evolution”

Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Considerations for Certification and Interoperability

Aircraft Certification Information Session

FAA/EASA Joint UAS Presentation2

June 5, 2008 2

Outline

• FAA Activities

• EASA Activities

• FAA/EASA Collaboration

• Reference Information on EASA Annexes


June 5, 2008 3

Status of FAA Regulatory Development

• Starting Small and “Do No Harm”

• Why? Market surveys indicate majority of UAS developed in the next 8-10 years will be under 20 pounds

– Includes civil, military, and commercial use

• Creation of an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)

– Initial committee meeting held May 27-29 in DC– An aggressive schedule (6-9 months)

• Rulemaking Process is lengthy– Projected final rule due in 2010/2011


June 5, 2008 4

More Regulatory Plans

• FAA has several certification teams focusing on future rule development:– Restricted Category guidance– 14 CFR Part 1 Definitions– 14 CFR Part 21– 14 CFR Part 23 review & applicability– 14 CFR Part 27 (Rotorcraft) review & applicability– Ground Control Station Technology– Automatic Take-off & Landing Technology


June 5, 2008 5

Experimentals and Approvals

• 31 Experimental Certificates Issued since August 2005– 8 more in the queue

• Certificates of Authorization/Waivers– Still between 80-100 per year

• Recent Challenge with Optionally Piloted Aircraft– Interest is increasing in using for UAS equipment

development– Need guidance for the field


June 5, 2008 6

Policies & Guidance Material


June 5, 2008 7

Policies & Guidance Material


June 5, 2008 8

RTCA – Building Avionics Standards

• Developing Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards (MASPS) for:– UAS– Sense & Avoid (Includes separation assurance)– Command & Control

• Recent re-baselining of Terms of Reference– MASPS projected for >2015– Risk-based approach– Industry support (or lack of it) drives the schedule

• Harmonization with EUROCAE WG-73


June 5, 2008 9

EASA Activities• The A-NPA

– A-NPA 16/2005 issued on 7 November 2005– Still available on the EASA web-site:

• http://www.easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/r/r_archives.php– Consultation closed on 7 February 2006

• Basis for the A-NPA:– Report of the JAA and EUROCONTROL joint initiative on UAV

(UAV Task-Force report)• http://www.easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/r/r_archives.php

• Purpose of the A-NPA:

– Envisage a policy for UAV systems (airworthiness)) certification

– Solicit comments on specific points


June 5, 2008 10

EASA Activities

• The policy:– Scope– Objectives– Definitions– Design and production– Continuing airworthiness– Environmental protection

UAS = flying vehicle + ground segment + control data link


June 5, 2008 11

EASA Activities

• The Comment Response Document was published on 06/12/2007: http://www.easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/r/r_archives.php

– The Agency acknowledge the significant delay compared to initial previsions

– Majority of comments concur that the option chosen by the Agency to develop a policy for UAV/S certification within the constraints described in the A-NPA is a step in the right direction.

– Was open for reactions until 06/02/2008.


June 5, 2008 12

EASA Activities

• Highlights of comments received:– Conventional versus safety target approach for certification– The two alternatives for selecting the manned CS.– UAV system safety analysis– Need for DOA– Certificate of airworthiness and control stations– Environment– UAV or UAS?– ‘sense and avoid’– Total system approach as proposed by Sweden– Security– Coordination with military working group on UAV– UAV below 150 KG– Regulatory framework for UAV: Role of EASA and development of a

comprehensive framework for UAV regulation


June 5, 2008 13

Reactions on CRD

• Reactions have been received from:– 5 Manufacturers– 1 Association of Manufacturers– 1 Research Establishment– 2 Authorities– 1 Pilot Association

• One issue has been heavily commented:– Safety target approach/ Target safety levels

• Analysis of reactions will be done so that the policy is issued in Summer


June 5, 2008 14

Contacts with Other Organisations

• ICAO:– EASA is participating into the Unmanned Aircraft

System Study Group (UASSG)

• FAA and Transport Canada:– The three organizations will communicate about any

activity initiated by one of them in the field of UAV

• EUROCONTROL:– Regular contacts are maintained , be it in the context

of general coordination or specific meetings, or through its participation in workshops


June 5, 2008 15

• EUROCAE:– Agency provide regular updates to the EUROCAE

working group WG-73 – WG-73 was asked to work on certain tasks identified in

the CRD

• European Defence Agency:– The Agency intends to build on the first contacts

established with EDA.

• NATO:– NATO is considering inviting the Agency to its FINAS

working group



June 5, 2008 16

• Workshop on 01/02/2008 – Objective of sharing information was achieved:

• Presentations are on the EASA web-site at

• http://www.easa.europa.eu/home/g_events.html

– Consider further coordination between Institutions– Seek EASA management agreement to be more present in UAV

activities– EASA will participate into the activities related to UAV below 150

KG– Noted different views expressed on EASA approach to safety

objective and encouraged reactions on the CRD– Reactions on CRD will be fully evaluated– Confirmed the need to publish the policy quickly now



June 5, 2008 17

EASA extension of scope• Previous Basic Regulation (1592) establishes

Community competence only for the regulation of the airworthiness and environmental compatibility of products

• Scope of this regulation is now extended to air operations; flight crew licensing and third country aircraft:– New Basic Regulation No 216/2008 dated 20 February 2008

and effective 8 April 2008– Implementing rules for manned aircraft: 1 year later

IRs for UAS crews and UAS ops expected in due time


June 5, 2008 18

EASA extension of scope• EASA’s scope proposed to cover also the

safety regulation of airport operations, air traffic management and air navigation services:– Opinion 03/2007 for aerodromes was issued in

December 2007– Opinion 01/2008 for ATM/ANS dated 15 April 2008– Legislative proposal for both could be issued by the

Commission in summer 2008– EASA legal remit fully extended by say 2011?

IRs for access by UAS to airspace expected in due time


June 5, 2008 19

EASA Conclusions

• Present and future extensions of scope have been described– This present extension of scope will allow us to address

operations and crew licensing issues for UAV

• EASA is committed to finalise this summer the policy for UAV systems certification

• EASA is willing to cooperate and contribute to the development of a comprehensive UAV regulatory framework.

• …debate is necessary before proposing any IRs: EASA looks forward for your continuing support


June 5, 2008 20

FAA/EASA Collaborative Efforts• Improve communication approach

– Propose Quarterly Teleconferences

• Rulemaking approaches (Includes design, production, maintenance, operations, and licensing) – Area of common interest – Identification of priority areas for future rulemaking– Starts with information exchange as a working method

• Sharing data in a generalized format on safety cases made by applicants without being project specific

• Process that established the “tailoring case”• Continued Airworthiness data • Identification of issues surrounding the Validation of

Approvals, e.g. future bilateral considerations– For example, issues surrounding VLA/VLR– Desire to mitigate burden on applicants


June 5, 2008 21

Summary

• The Challenges of Integrating UAS are many

• Sharing the Workload will be Key to a Timely Success

• This is Not a Race – It’s about Safety


June 5, 2008 22

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE INFORMATION


June 5, 2008 23

EASA-Annex I

• More information on the policy


June 5, 2008 24

EASA activities

• The policy (I):– Scope:

UAS with a maximum take-off mass of 150 kg or more; which are not excluded by Article 1(2) or Article 4(2) and Annex II of EC Regulation 1592/2002.

– Objectives: • Airworthiness (protection of people and property on the

ground); environmental protection (ICAO annex 16)

– Definitions: • insist on the system: UAS

UAS = flying vehicle + ground segment + control data link


June 5, 2008 25

EASA activities

• The policy (II):– Procedure for UAS certification: Part 21 is applicable

• Type certificate (TC):– Part 21 A.17: type certification basis

– Design organisation approval for designer

• Production organisation approval for manufacturer

• Certificate of airworthiness and Noise certificates for individual UAS

• Restricted certificate of airworthiness may be issued for operations in remote areas

– This procedure would allow for a stepped by step approach:• Restricted certificate of airworthiness

• TC


June 5, 2008 26

EASA activities• The policy (III):

– UAS elements to be included in the type certification basis:

• Any function and associated equipments that can prejudice continued safe flight and landing or environmental compatibility

• Typical list is provide in attachment 1 of the policy

« No hazard » principle for mission avionics and transmission of mission data

States may voluntarily apply elements of the policy to UAV < 150 Kg


June 5, 2008 27

EASA activities

• The policy (IV):– Type Certification basis:

• Adapted from existing Certification Specification (CS) for manned aircraft

• Methodology to select appropriate CS. • Tailoring for UAS of selected CS• UAS system safety assessment• Special conditions:

– emergency recovery capability; – communication link; – level of autonomy; – human machine interface; – Others

• Detailed guidance is contained into attachment 2 to the policy


June 5, 2008 28

EASA activities

• The policy (IV):– Continuing airworthiness:

• Part M is applicable

– Environmental protection:• Noise: appropriate chapters of annex 16 volume I

– Need for adaptation for UAS specific use

• Gaseous emissions and fuel venting: annex 16 volume II


June 5, 2008 29

EASA-Annex II

• Disposal of main comments in CRD


June 5, 2008 30

Main issues highlighted by the A-NPA consultation and replies in CRD:

• Issues fully within the “old” (Reg. 1592/2002) EASA remit (I):– Conventional versus safety target approach for

certification:• Conventional approach retained

– The two alternatives for selecting the manned CS:• Kinetic energy method retained

– UAS system safety analysis• Quantitative level as in selected CS for first issue of the Policy• Ask EUROCAE WG-73 to develop further guidance for the

system airworthiness aspects


June 5, 2008 31


• Issues fully within the “old” (Reg. 1592/2002) EASA remit (II):– Need for DOA

• Possible alleviation for light UAS

– Certificate of airworthiness and control stations• Certificate of airworthiness covers one air vehicle and one

control station

– Environment:• Stick to ICAO Annex 16 keeping in mind that turbo-jet

powered UAS with short take-off distances and/ or special missions may necessitate specific measures.

– UAV or UAS?• UAS


June 5, 2008 32


• Issues fully within the “old” (Reg. 1592/2002) EASA remit : way forward– Short term:

• Review the reactions• When appropriate modify the policy

• Publish the policy in Summer because we have already 3 applications

– Further development of the policy: • several tasks proposed to the EUROCAE WG-73 as

described in the previous slides


June 5, 2008 33


• Issues outside the EASA remit (I):– ‘sense and avoid’:

• Still not part of the Policy• To develop a special condition using EUROCONTROL

specification relative to military UAS used in operational air traffic outside segregated airspace

• Agency will request EUROCAE WG 73 to develop the special condition

– Total system approach as proposed by Sweden• Attractive concept but goes beyond UAS certification• Deserve further study


June 5, 2008 34


• Issues outside the EASA remit (II):– Security:

• Key issue but not within EASA remit

• Safety impacts of security systems are within EASA remit

– Coordination with military working group on UAS:• Importance recognised

• USAR version 3 and most likely STANAG 4671 can be used with certain limitations

– UAS below 150 KG:• Coordination between Member States using EUROCAE

WG-73 is encouraged


June 5, 2008 35


• Issues outside the EASA remit: way forward– regulatory framework for UAV: Role of EASA and development

of a comprehensive framework for UAV regulations:• Create a group to identify building blocks and road map for a

comprehensive framework for UAV regulation:• The group should report to the Commission because the

Commission is competent for all issues related to UAV regulation. It should include the main players and take into account existing or planned activities. A specific task for the group would be to develop regulatory impact assessment (in particular safety case).

• The group should allocate responsibilities so that each player is responsible to organise its work. The group may also organise further studies as appropriate (e.g. Total System Approach, Safety Target approach)

Documents

Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Considerations for Certification and Interoperability