Pilotless Aircraft / Remotely
Piloted Aircraft
Instructor Seminar
August 2011
Risk Management – RPAs
Operations
 Separation Manned Vs Unmanned
 Other risks: including
 Loss of C3 (command, communications and control)
 Fully autonomous operations
 Standardisation of ground stations
 Operator qualifications
 Public acceptance (including privacy)
 Rotary wing specific
Scenario 1 - Predator
Scenario 1 – Predator
 Pre accident philosophy
 Accident specifics
 Post accident philosophy
Scenario 2 - Kahu
Scenario 2 - Kahu
 First commercial operation
 Incident specifics
 Australian experience RPA Vs GA
Scenario 3 – Pheonix Drone
Scenario 3 - Pheonix
 Pheonix specifications
 Smoke identification system
 Incidents
Scenario 4 – Kahu landing
accident
 Accident specifics
 Will we experience the same accidents eg human
factors in RPA’s that we have seen in manned
aircraft - PROBABLY
My Role – Pilotless Aircraft
 Project leader of small team working on the
introduction of pilotless aircraft
 Background of 45 years building and flying radio
controlled model aircraft
 Member of ICAO UAS study group representing
CAANZ
 Working closely with CASA
 ASTM F38 (Small UAS) Committee member
ICAO’s Position – Pilotless
Aircraft
 Model aircraft versus UAS / Pilotless Aircraft
 Pilotless aircraft now defined as “Remotely
Piloted Aircraft Systems” (RPAs) ie all aircraft
are piloted in one form or another.
 Focus is now on reviewing ICAO Annex 2 and
7 as a starting point to ensure each annex fully
covers RPAs as well as manned aircraft
 Cir 328 Pamphlet published
Current Pilotless Aircraft
Operations
 Air Affairs – Pheonix
 Hawkeye UAV
 Photohigher
 Skycam
 Martin Jet pack
 Defence activity
(NB) All civil operators hold a CPL or PPL
Current CAA Pilotless Aircraft
Rules
 Part 19 Pilotless Aircraft authorisation
 Authorisation enables operations, provides
limitations and conditions including an expiry
date.
 Authorisation can be as restrictive or generous
as appropriate for the planned operation.
 All RPAs operations are in special use
airspace or restricted to line of sight operations
below 400 feet and in compliance with model
aircraft rules
Current CAA Pilotless Aircraft
Rules -2 Authorisation needs to cover:
 Appropriate aviation documents and / or qualifications
are held
 Activities are carried out safely
 Maintenance programmes and performance
 Risk management
 Area of operations
 Aircraft registration
 Aircraft design standards
So How’s it Going Then?
 One step at a time (thanks to early
authorisation holders)
 All operations utilise small RPAs
 RPAs can perform many operations carried out
by manned aircraft, BUT, they may not always
be the best option.
 Seek, detect and avoid systems are the key
 We learned a lot about NOTAM access
The Future
 ICAO will continue to develop rules for large
RPA’s (over 150 kg)
 Small RPA’s will be regulated by individual
states
 CASA has the first set of aviation rules for
RPA’s (Part 101). This is about to be
amended.
 Pilot/operator training
 Specific RPA’s Rules
Framework of the Civil
Aviation System
The “Life Cycle” Approach
Rules …..Safety Boundary
ENTRY CONTROL
Ê
Ë
CORRECTIVE
ACTIONS
Ï
CONTINUED
OPERATION
Î
Ì
Í
RULES FOR
EXIT CONTROL
SUPPORT
TO MAINTAIN
GOOD RELATIONS
CONFIDENCE
THROUGH
SURVEILLANCE