ASTM to develop standards for small unmanned aircraft systems.
Press Release Summary:
Selected by U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, ASTM International Committee F38 will develop industry standards for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) that will allow sUAS to file and fly missions in national airspace alongside manned aircraft. Proposed standard WK27055 sets out procedures to use to meet FAA requirements for airworthiness and registration of all UAS, including sUAS, and will allow sUAS manufacturers and owners to register their sUAS using electronic system.
Original Press Release:
ASTM Committee to Aid Federal Aviation Administration by Developing Standards for Small Unmanned Air Vehicle Systems
W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., -The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has selected ASTM International Committee F38 on Unmanned Aircraft Systems to develop industry standards for small unmanned aircraft systems. These standards will allow sUAS to file and fly missions in the national airspace alongside manned aircraft.
According to Rocklin Gmeiner, director, federal/civil programs, Raytheon, and chairman of F38.01, one of the key sUAS standards needed for the FAA to accept sUAS is for marking and registration. Subcommittee F38.01 on Airworthiness is currently working on this proposed new standard, WK27055, Practice for Registration and Marking of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
"ASTM WK27055 sets out the procedures to use to meet FAA requirements for the airworthiness and registration of all UAS, to include sUAS," says Gmeiner. "It also standardizes the international marking and registration of UAS so each country does not have to develop their own means to do this."
The proposed new standard will allow sUAS manufacturers and owners to register their sUAS using an electronic system that will significantly reduce the paperwork involved in the existing FAA registration process. Manufacturers, developers and owners will be the prime beneficiaries of this proposed standard," says Gmeiner. "They will have a means to qualify their sUAS to standards that are internationally recognized."
While ASTM WK27055 is currently in the review and ballot process, Gmeiner notes that approximately 18 to 30 standards will be required to allow sUAS to be able to file and fly in the National Airspace System and meet FAA requirements.
"Many of these standards are beginning to be worked on at this time, and F38 will need qualified people to help in their development," says Gmeiner. "We need participation across the entire spectrum of standards for these sUAS, including airworthiness, training, maintenance, procedures and all other aspects of developing and flying a sUAS."
The FAA has previously worked in a similar fashion with ASTM Committee F37 on Light Sport Aircraft in the successful development of a set of light sport aircraft standards.
ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.
ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions.
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