ICAO progress for RPAS

Filippo Tomasello
(EASA and co-chair of ICAO UAS Study Group)
12 March 2013

ICAO progress & plans for UAS

Establishment UAS Study Group (2007)
Statement at 37th General Assembly (Oct 2010)
Amendment 13 to Annex 13 (appl. Nov 2010)
Circular 328 (March 2011): UA are aircraft
Amendment 43 Annex 2 (applicable Nov 2012):
RPAS need safety certification
Operators under safety oversight
Remote pilots competent, fit and licensed
Amendment 6 to Annex 7 (2012)

Recommendation 4/6 from ANC 12 (Nov 2012)

RPA into Global Air Navigation Plan at 38th General
Assembly (Oct 2013)
RPAS Symposium (Oct 2014)
UAS Study Group developing a Manual and SARPs

Recommendation 4/6 (ANC/12)

That ICAO:
as a matter of urgency, develop the necessary regulatory
framework to support integration of RPA into non-segregated
airspace and at aerodromes including and clearly showing the
scope of such regulation
investigate oversight of data links related to command, control
and ATC communications for RPAS
Include integration of RPA into non-segregated airspace in the
draft Fourth Edition of the Global Air Navigation Plan
That States:
be cognizant of the recent amendments to Annexes and support
the continuation of this work at ICAO
work closely with ICAO and each other to ensure
harmonization of provisions if they have an urgent need
Filippo Tomasello

Focus areas of the UASSG

Remote
Pilots

ATM

Airworthi
-ness

D&A

Ope
rators
C2 &
Comms

Scoping - General
Focus on international operations

Focus on what is needed for

international
(i.e. global) interoperability
Priority is fundamentals to initiate
international operations

ICAO provisions are not a priority if

national or regional differences are
acceptable

Scoping - VLOS
VLOS operation an operation in which
the remote pilot or RPA observer
maintains direct unaided visual contact
with the RPA*
Primarily a State/regional issue
Normally below 500 AGL

*Definition from Annex 2

Scoping Beyond VLOS

Beyond VLOS operation this does not
preclude VLOS segments (e.g. takeoff/landing)
Focus for international
harmonization/interoperability
Regardless of category (e.g. general
aviation, commercial, aerial work)
Regardless of level (e.g. not precluding very
low level ops (i.e. below 1000/500 AGL),
but not a priority)
Regardless of type of C2 data link

Annex 1 SARPs
Remote pilot licence - RPL
Competency-based approach
Scalable from VLOS operation-only to
highly complex RPAS and operation
involving VLOS and BVLOS

Medical requirements based on Class

3 medical (ATC)

Annex 6 SARPs
Beyond VLOS operations
Detailed SARPs

VLOS operations
Provide context regarding remote pilot
responsibilities when managing the RPA
visually
States responsible for regulating VLOS
operations

Annex 8 SARPs
No (explicit) minimum mass for RPA
Focus on RPA intended to be used in
international air navigation, beyond
VLOS (and related RPAS components)
Note. Beyond VLOS requires equipment (e.g.
CNS and detect and avoid), which may lead to
a minimum mass being identified at a later
time

Annex 10 SARPs
Frequency bands (in compliance with
ITU RR)
Performance requirements for C2
RLOS / Beyond RLOS
Terrestrial / Satellite

Technical requirements for detect and

avoid
Oversight of COM Service Provider
(CSP)
(e.g. as contractor of the TC holder, contractor
of the operator or certified organization)

Timelines
RPAS Manual publish by August 2014
RPAS Symposium October 2014
SARPs for Annexes 1, 6, 8, 10
applicable November 2016
RPAS Manual updated based on evolving
SARPs

Additional SARPs on biannual basis