On 7 March 2012, the Council of ICAO unanimously adopted amendments to Annexes 2 and 7 of the Chicago Convention, achieving a very important milestone for the insertion of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the total aviation system (i.e. not only the airspace, but the body of safety rules which apply to aviation to protect third parties on the ground and other airspace users). The competence of ICAO relates to UAS of any mass, when used in international civil aviation. An operation is ‘international’ even when a UAS registered in a State is carried (e.g. by a van) to take off from an adjacent State.
The new standards were developed by the ICAO UAS Study Group, which consists of 18 State representatives (Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Rep., France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russian Fed., Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, UK, USA), as well as representatives from EASA and EUROCONTROL and 9 international organizations (CANSO, EUROCAE, IAOPA, ICCAIA, IFALPA, IFATCA, NATO, RTCA, and UVS International). These new standards will be applicable from 15 November 2012.
These standards state that, in order to fly internationally, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) need to be certified for their safety, be under the command of a licensed pilot, and be under the responsibility of a certified RPAS operator. Only once these three conditions are fulfilled, based on Article 8 of the Chicago Convention, may an operator apply to obtain the authorization to enter non-segregated airspace. The certification of the airworthiness of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) separate from the certification for suitability of its Remote Pilot Station (RPS) facilitates operational flexibility, including RPA control hand-over between two RPS. This also opens the way to the provision of data links via SATCOM. SATCOM providers wishing to provide their services in a substantial part of the European Union can apply to EASA for certification. This will put all the constituents of the RPAS under proper safety oversight.
The work of the ICAO UAS Study Group will now continue relative to the definition of ICAO standards mainly for airworthiness, remote pilot licensing and operations. Prior to producing these new standards, a ‘Manual’ is being developed in time for the world-wide UAS Symposium, which ICAO plans to organise in spring 2014.
It is of interest for the international RPAS community to note that the following definitions are indicated in the adopted amendments:
Command and control link (C2)
The data link between the remotely piloted aircraft and the remote pilot station for the purposes of managing the flight.
Detect and avoid
The capability to see, sense or detect conflicting traffic or other hazards and take the appropriate action.
Operator
A person, organization or enterprise engaged in or offering to engage in an aircraft operation.
Note.– In the context of remotely piloted aircraft, an aircraft operation includes the remotely piloted aircraft system.
Remote pilot
A person charged by the operator with duties essential to the operation of a remotely piloted aircraft and who manipulates the flight controls, as appropriate, during flight time.
Remote pilot station
The component of the remotely piloted aircraft system containing the equipment used to pilot the remotely piloted aircraft.
Remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)
An unmanned aircraft which is piloted from a remote pilot station.
Remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS)
A remotely piloted aircraft, its associated remote pilot station(s), the required command and control links and any other components as specified in the type design.
RPA observer
A trained and competent person designated by the operator who, by visual observation of the remotely piloted aircraft, assists the remote pilot in the safe conduct of the flight.
Visual line-of-sight (VLOS) operation
An operation in which the remote pilot or RPA observer maintains direct unaided visual contact with the remotely piloted aircraft.