ICAO Council makes progress on new RPAS standards

During its ongoing 222nd Session, the ICAO Council has adopted new and amended Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) driving important progress on the international safety and interoperability of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS).

The new provisions will become effective on 12 July 2021, and applicable as of 26 November 2026. The most important pertain to Annex 8 — Airworthiness of Aircraft to the Chicago Convention, and cover certification requirements for remotely piloted aeroplanes and helicopters, in addition to the remote pilot stations (RPS) they are operated from.

“This provides a baseline of requirements which countries can employ in the near term to certify RPAS for international cargo operations or aerial work. Future work will address passenger-carrying RPA, as well as more advanced capabilities being anticipated for future urban air mobility.”

The new Annex 8 SARPs were complemented by new provisions adopted by the Council on C2 Links, the data links that connect the RPA and RPS, in Annex 10 to the Convention, on Aeronautical Telecommunications. They include Amendment 90 to Volume V, which addresses spectrum allocations that may be used for RPAS C2 Links, and the adoption of an entirely new Volume VI, on RPAS C2 Link communications systems and procedures.

A second package of C2 Link SARPs, which is currently being developed by ICAO’s RPAS Panel, will address details for interoperability, spectrum utilization, and compatibility with existing communications and navigation systems, including the sharing of the proposed frequency bands.

The latest RPAS progress required minor modifications to Annexes 1 (Personnel Licensing) and 2 (Rules of the Air) of the Convention, and will eventually be supported by more substantial Annex 2 changes already in development. Previous Annex 1 Standards adopted by the Council in 2018 introduced a regulatory structure for the issuance of remote pilot licences for applicability as of November 2022.

As this extensive work continues through ICAO, it is presumed that all of the 19 Annexes to the Chicago Convention will eventually require either significant or minor modification to achieve the safe, secure and efficient integration of RPAS into current global aviation frameworks. www.icao.int

FAA new drone rules take effect

According to the press release issued by Federation Aviation Administration (FAA), final rules take effect on April 21, 2021 for remotely identifying drones and allowing operators of small drones to fly over people and at night under certain conditions.

“Today’s rules are an important first step in safely and securely managing the growing use of drones in our airspace, though more work remains on the journey to full integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “The Department looks forward to working with stakeholders to ensure that our UAS policies keep pace with innovation, ensure the safety and security of our communities, and foster the economic competitiveness of our country.”

“Drones can provide virtually limitless benefits, and these new rules will ensure these important operations can grow safely and securely,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “The FAA will continue to work closely with other Department of Transportation offices and stakeholders from across the drone community to take meaningful steps to integrate emerging technologies that safely support increased opportunities for more complex drone use.”

The Remote Identification (Remote ID) rule provides for identifying drones in flight and the location of their control stations, reducing the risk of them interfering with other aircraft or posing a risk to people and property on the ground. The rule provides crucial information to our national security and law enforcement partners and other agencies charged with ensuring public safety. It applies to all drones that require FAA registration.

The Operations Over Peoplerule applies to pilots who fly under Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Under this rule, the ability to fly over people and over moving vehicles varies depending on the level of risk (PDF) a small drone poses to people on the ground. Additionally, this rule allows operations at night under certain conditions provided pilots complete certain training or pass knowledge tests. The public can review both the Remote ID (PDF) and Operations Over People Rule (PDF) in the Federal Register. www.faa.gov

EC adopts the U-Space package: towards a safe drone integration into U-Space

On April 22, the EC adopted the U-Space package – three regulations that oversee drone integration and manned aircraft activity in U-Space. Together with last December’s “Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy“, this milestone achievement will pave the way for safe integration of drones and UAS in urban airspace, and even BVLOS operations. The U-Space package is just one of the many initiatives the European Union has undertaken towards drone integration.

The adoption of the U-Space package gives framework to drone operativity in urban airspace. Nonetheless, there are several steps to take before complete RPAS integration in civil air space. The U-Space package is a product of years of strategic planning. In 2015, the EU called for the development of a basic legal framework for safe drone operations. With today’s adoption of the regulatory framework for U-space, the Commission finally fulfilled the objectives set in 2015. https://ec.europa.eu