| RTCA, Inc. SC-203 Committee |
| The Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, RTCA, Inc., is a private, not-for-profit corporation that develops consensus-based recommendations regarding communications, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) system issues. RTCA, founded in 1935 and re authorized in April of 2004 by DOT order 1110.77Q, is based in Washington DC at 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 805, 20036, and functions as a Federal Advisory Committee. Its recommendations are used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the basis for policy, program, and regulatory decisions, and by the private sector as the basis for development, investment, and other business decisions. DOT Order 1110.77Q countaing an excellent description of the RTCA, its mission and functional responsibilities.
The SC-203 Committee of the RTCA is developing UAV standards related to Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards (MASPS) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. This standard currently under development is scheduled for completion in December 2005. This fourth meeting summary report for the RTCA SC-203 held on September 13-16, 2005 in Washington, DC at RTCA, Inc. highlights MASPS progress to date. A significant result of the meeting is to devide the MASPS into two documents to be released sequentially. The first document tentatively titled "Guidance Material and Considerations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems" will probably become the basis for the FAA guidance targeted for March 2006. The second document entitled "UAS MASPS" will be released at a later date upon completion of the SC-203 work program. According to information posted on the RTCA website, the MASPS section governing Command, Control, and Communications systems for UAVs is targeted for completion June 2006. The final scheduled MASPS section for DSA Sense and Avoid Systems (Collision Control) is scheduled for completion in December 2007. The FAA will use these MASPS sections as support regulatory guidance recommendations, along with input from Access 5 / UNITE and ASTM standards and specifications to develop regulations for UAVs for use in the USNAS.
The next meeting of the commitee is scheduled for Jan 24-26, 2006 San Diego, CA.
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| UAV Regulatory Timeline |
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| UAV Standards Timeline |
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| US UAV Inter Agency Organization |
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| ASTM and the F-38 UAV Committee Standards Process |
ASTM International
ASTM International describes its focus and mission in this context – see for original – quote “ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world-a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevancy, ASTM International standards have an important role in the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing and trade in the global economy.
ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), was formed over a century ago, when a forward-thinking group of engineers and scientists got together to address frequent rail breaks in the burgeoning railroad industry. Their work led to standardization on the steel used in rail construction, ultimately improving railroad safety for the public. As the century progressed and new industrial, governmental and environmental developments created new standardization requirements, ASTM answered the call with consensus standards that have made products and services safer, better and more cost-effective. The proud tradition and forward vision that started in 1898 is still the hallmark of ASTM International.
Today, ASTM continues to play a leadership role in addressing the standardization needs of the global marketplace. Known for its best in class practices for standards development and delivery, ASTM is at the forefront in the use of innovative technology to help its members do standards development work, while also increasing the accessibility of ASTM International standards to the world.
ASTM continues to be the standards forum of choice of a diverse range of industries that come together under the ASTM umbrella to solve standardization challenges……….
Standards developed at ASTM are the work of over 30,000 ASTM members. These technical experts represent producers, users, consumers, government and academia from over 100 countries. Participation in ASTM International is open to all with a material interest, anywhere in the world.” – end quote.
F-38 Committee on UAVs
The F-38 committee (current organizational structure) on UAVs was established was established at the request of the UAV industry with participation from FAA on the subcommittees in the developing standards. The F-38 statement on UA Systems and standards work is presented. In accordance with public law, the committee is a transparent, open forum for the development of standards, as detailed in this position statement from F38 to FAA at the request of Nick Sabatini, the FAA Associate Administrator for Regulation and Safety describes the F-38 Charter and objectives.
The mission of Committee F38 is to produce cost-effective consensus standards that, when applied, will enhance the safe design, manufacture, maintenance, and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This will be accomplished in the following steps:
1. Define terms and scope of UAS standards
2. Adopt current, safe practices and guidance as formal UAS standards
3. Develop additional UAS standards as needed
4. Maintain currency and relevancy of standards.
ASTM F-38 standards are well along. As of November 2005 ASTM has forecast no longer that six to eight months for the standards listed below to be published. The Workflow document is included for reference.
The ASTM is an important component of the regulatory process. The Federal Advisory Committee Act authorized the FAA to incorporate standards into regulations. This process has the advantage of flexibility because a standards body like ASTM can revise standards in real time to reflect changes in technology – sometimes in less than 6 months. Laws and Regulations generally cannot exhibit such responsive timeframes.
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| ASTM Published* and Standards in Process
ASTM F38 (PPT Presentation) - Home
DSA Sense and Avoid* - F2411-04e1 Standard Specification for Design and Performance of an Airborne Sense-and-Avoid System The (F2411-04 DSA Collision Avoidance) that requires a UAV to be able to detect and avoid another airborn object within a range of + or - 15 degrees Elevation and + or -110 degrees Azimuth and to be able to respond so that collision is avoided by at least 500 ft.
WK5673 - Standard Guide for Mini-UAV Airworthiness
WK5796 - RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND TEST
WK6341 - Standard Specification for Design and Performance of an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) Data Link System
WK6782 - FAR Part 21 Review For Civil Unmanned Aircraft (CUA) Requirements.
WK6783 - FAR Part 27 Review For Civil Unmanned Rotorcraft (CUR) Requirements.
WK7066 - Quality Assurance in the Manufacture of Unmanned Airplane Systems (UAS)
WK7067 - Continued Operational Safety Monitoring of the Light Unmanned Airplane Systems (UAS)
WK7575 - Standard Practice for Maintenance and the Development of Maintenance Manuals for Light Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
WK7630 - UAV Embedded Software
WK7977 - Standard Practice for Design and Manufacture of Reciprocating Engines for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
WK8689 - Standard Specification for the Design and Performance of a Pneumatic UAS Launch System
ASTM F38 - Pilot Qualifications
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The SAE S-4 Unmanned Systems Committee is tasked with developing standards for UAVs. AIR5665, initiated in September 2005, entitled Architecture for Unmanned Systems is a work in process. A link will appear here when it has been published. AIR5645 entitled Transport Specification, AS-4 Unmanned Systems is similarly a work in process.
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| AIAA (ANSI) and IEEE Standards and Committees |
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) promulgates aeronautical standards certified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) according to this process.
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IEEE - Technical Committee on Aerial Robots - Home
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STANAG 4586 - Standard Interfaces of UAV Control Systems (UCS) for NATO UAV Interoperability - NATO Standard on UAV Interoperability.
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