BelgianAviationNews: [EASA] : On Air, Issue 11 - EASA and the world of Drones

2016-12-03

[EASA] : On Air, Issue 11 - EASA and the world of Drones

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Cologne, November, 2016

On Air, Issue 11: EASA and the world of Drones

Editorial - Interview - Featured topic - Figure of the month - News & events

Drones have become a priority for EASA. The industry is growing rapidly but it is an innovation that does not comes from the traditional aviation. Many different types of drones are used for different purposes (surveillance, filming, transport, etc.) and it is not possible to cover all these applications with only one rule.

The risks generated are also new: for example, who takes responsibilities when a 3rd party is damaged? What happens at the airspace level with potential collisions?

EASA's perspective on Drones

Yves Morier is the principal Advisor to the Certification Director for New technologies at EASA, he has a vast experinece in the rulemaking field and is momentarly contributing to the development of the RPAS rules and policies as well as the General Aviation roadmap.

Drones, RPAS, UAVs… what is the correct term? And what is it exactly consider as an "unmanned aircraft"?
I am afraid the correct regulatory term is Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). It has replaced UAV (Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles) and is the most general term. It indicates that the UAS is an aircraft and a system (the unmanned aircraft that flies; its command and control link and the control station). An unmanned aircraft is an aircraft without a pilot on board. Please note that this does not exclude to carry passengers. UAV includes RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) which are controlled by a pilot and also autonomous aircraft. Drone is a term used by the general public and is equivalent to UAS. Drone refer to the noise the first UAV where making when in flight.

An overview on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Related EASA activities

UAS exist since 1930. They are also known as drones by the general public. The word "drone" refer to the noise of the engine of the first generation of UAS. From these days, as example, the De Havilland Queen Bee derived from the Tiger Moth had already remote controls installed at the place occupied by the back seat.

For quite a long time, UAS were used for military purposes as target aircraft or for reconnaissance and lately for precision attacks. The latter gave them a bad image.

Here some current facts:
• A very fast civil development in Europe and elsewhere occurred since 2010. This is due to the emergence Multi-copter which has made UAS affordable for professional but also for leisure activities.

• UAS are characterised by a great variety of external configurations:

a) You may find rotorcraft, fixed wings, flapping wings, tilt rotor, airship and configurations that are mixing the previous ones.

b) Their mode of propulsion is also very variable: piston, turbine or electric engines (using batteries, fuel cells or solar cells) are commonly found.

c) Some are remotely piloted; some use a high degree of automation and in the future may be fully autonomous (e.g. the ability to learn and to decide)

d) Finally the range of mass and size is very wide: the so called nano-drones have a weight of 10/20 grams or less. The heaviest UAS is the Global Hawk.