Regulations for RPAS Flight & Capability Demonstrations

The number of RPAS flight & capability demonstrations taking place in a significant number of countries is steadily growing.
These flight demonstrations take place at, amongst others:
a) Events featuring manned aircraft demonstrations (e.g. air shows);
b) Military equipment exhibitions;
c) Events organised by regional economic activity promotion organisations;
d) Events organised by national associations and working groups;
e) Events organised by universities;
f) Events organised by conference organisers;
g) Competitions organised by universities.

In view of the aforementioned, the following points should be considered:

1. All such flight demonstrations take place in front of a public, which can significantly vary in size.
2. Many of the organisers of such events do not have the experience to fully appreciate their responsibility & reliability (and/or do not take the time to inform themselves).
3. Several (near) accidents & incidents have already occurred.
4. The national aviation authorities of only a very limited number of countries have regulations for such flight demonstrations in place.
5. There are no pan-European, nor internationally, recognised criteria relative to the required airworthiness, pilot competence, safety precautions, and security measures available for guidance to the organisers of such RPAS flight demonstrations.
6. It is highly debatable if the RPAS operator’s third party liability insurance actually covers all such flight demonstrations.
7. The continuously increasing number of approved commercial RPAS operators in countries where initial RPAS regulations have been put in place [In Europe: Czech Rep., France, Ireland, Sweden, and UK – Outside Europe: Australia, Canada, Israel, and Japan].
8. The number of countries where initial regulations for non-State RPAS operations are in preparation [In Europe: Belgium, Denmark, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain – Outside Europe: Brazil, Russian Fed., South Africa, Turkey, USA].
9. The amount of countries currently lacking national RPAS regulations, but where the national and/or regional aviation authorities are facilitating RPAS operations on a limited scale by granting experimental flight authorizations (e.g. Hong Kong) or “permits to tale-off” (e.g. the 16 federal states in Germany).
10. The growing amount of civil RPAS applications (commercial; non-commercial; corporate) that are being evaluated by current & potential RPAS operators.
11. The expectation that the quantity of RPAS demonstrations will substantially increase in the short to medium term.
12. A serious accident or incident involving RPAS at such a flight or capability demonstration would have severe repercussions on the entire RPAS community.

Consequently, UVS International is initiating a study group to rapidly produce, a proposal on how to increase the safety at such RPAS flight demonstrations and to submit it for consideration by the regulatory authorities.

The following 3 documents can be found on www.uvs-info.com – See the “Study Groups” tab in the main menu bar:

– The Call for Participation in the Study Group on RPAS Flight & Capability Demonstrations. This document explains the Study Group objectives and indicates the topics to be addressed, and the time lines, as well as the tasks of the Study Group Management Team.
– The Study Group Participant Reply Form.
– The Study Group Management Team Candidate Reply Form.

The deadline for participation & candidate submissions is 30 September 2013.