On 4 August 2011, the DGAC (French National Civil Aviation Authority) published the draft of two proposed decrees for public consultation: The provisions of the draft Decree concerning the design of civil aircraft which fly without anyone on board, their conditions of use and the skills required of their users relative to airworthiness, piloting, operations and the use of electromagnetic frequencies.
In the case of the provisions relating to airspace, a draft decree amends the Decree of 21 December 2009 relating to the conditions for integration into, and movements in, French airspace, of unmanned civil or military aircraft.
A table for information purposes summarizes the conditions governing the operation of unmanned aircraft, indicating the previous arrangements applicable to model aircraft flying and explaining the requirements applicable to aerial work.
Naturally, these documents were published in French.
On request of UVS International, Eurocontrol has translated these documents into English, in order to make them accessible to the wider European and international UAS community. Eurocontrol is sincerely thanked.
The English translations, as well as the original documents in French, are now posted on www.uvs-info.com where they can be found in the UAS Info section (main menu bar) – Go to the UAS-Related Documents Library – then go to the category: Regulatory Authorities – then see under the heading: DGAC-France
Comments on these documents must be supplied to the DGAC by email before 30 October 2011.
Claude Mas & Sebastien Travadel, and the review team (which included UVS France representatives), are congratulated for having produced these documents in such a short time.