UAV Certification - extract for AUVSI 2015

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UAV Certification

Recognised Certification Bases

Regulation – An Australian Perspective


Overview

Regulation and Certification

Manned vs unmanned regulation

Unmanned aviation regulation

UAS Certification Bases

Pros and cons of manned certification bases

Scope of UAS certification

Fundamentals of UAS certification

Standards

MIL-HDBK-516B, STANAG 4671

© 2010 Nova Systems Pty Ltd 2


Regulation and Certification

What is regulation?

The framework

What is a certification basis?

The set of requirements that define the airworthiness standards to which an aircraft is designed / built

Why is UAS certification different?

Often unable to meet manned criteria

Different risk profiles

Becomes risk-oriented

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Regulation

Consistently regulated across the globe

International Civil Aviation Organisation

ICAO

Framework for regulation of (civil) aviation

Manned

National and Military Airworthiness Authorities

Well recognised standards and mutual recognition

Unmanned

Widely varying regulation worldwide

No universally accepted standards

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Fundamental Certification Aspects

Why use a manned certification basis?

Recognised by airworthiness authorities

Understood by engineers

Commonalities: UAVs & manned aircraft

Maintenance / Reliability

Structural integrity

EMI/EMC (but more critical in UAS)

Fatigue and life management

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Fundamental Certification Aspects

Why not use a manned certification basis?“Too safe” for unmanned aircraft?

Omits critical UAS-specific aspects

Inappropriate for UAS size and development history

Differences: UAVs vs manned aircraftLoss of aircraft ≠ Loss of pilot

Lower weight, larger wingspan than manned

Ability to terminate flight

Limited on-board sense and avoid capability

100% electrical system (no manual override)

Engine (rather than pilot) likely single point of failure

Criticality of navigation system

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Airworthiness StandardsPhysical

MIL-HDBK-516BGuidance, not requirements

STANAG 4671 Tailored FAR23

DEF STAN 00-970 Part 9Tailored STANAG 4671

CS-LURSTailored FAR27 (Rotorcraft)

UAV-GCS InterfaceSTANAG 4586

SoftwareDO-178B – not UAS-unique

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MIL-HDBK-516B"This document establishes the airworthiness certification criteria to be used in the determination of airworthiness of all manned and unmanned, fixed and rotary wing air vehicle systems. It is a foundational document to be used by the system program manager, chief engineer, and contractors to define their air system’s airworthiness certification basis.

Consists of:

Certification criteria

E.g. “Verify that the stability and control effects of basic design features, as well as unique features, are safe in the entire flight envelope(s).“

Recommended standards

14CFR references: 23.321-23.459, 25.321-25.459, 23.1501-23.1529, 25.1501-25.1529

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MIL-HDBK-516B

Theoretically includes unmanned aircraft

Limited specific coverage

Does not include GCS

Development of a certification basis

Airworthiness certification framework

Not a certification basis (CBD) in itself

Guides selection of standards, requirement thresholds, certification philosophy

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STANAG 4671“This document contains a set of technical airworthiness requirements intended primarily for the airworthiness certification of fixed-wing military UAV Systems with a maximum take-off weight between 150 and 20,000 kg (330 lb to 44,000 lb) that intend to regularly operate in non-segregated airspace.”

Based on 14 CFR Part 23 (FAR 23)

Excludes elements not relevant to UAS

Aerobatics, control forces, dual controls etc.

Adds UAS-unique elements

GCS, Flight Termination System etc.

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STANAG 4671

Manned-common elements

Generally match FAR 23 requirements

Some changes in thresholds

Change from pilot-oriented to FCS-oriented

Structure, engine etc

USAR.xxx

UAS-unique elements (approx 120)

Parachute systems

Launch systems

Flight termination systems

Communication systems

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Summary

Certification is intended to ensure safety

Covers the entire system

UAV, GCS, pilots, maintainers

UAS certification is immature compared to manned aircraft certification

Same concepts apply

Lack of widely accepted standards

Existing standards are a solid baseline

Risk assessment is key to UAS operations

Air traffic integration aspects

Watch this (air)space

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Questions?

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UAV Certification - extract for AUVSI 2015

Engineering

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