ASTM F2505-06

Standard Practice for Application of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Aviation Regulations Part 21 Requirements to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

SCOPE
1.1 In this practice, certification procedures are provided for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the Light UAS Class and in the Remotely Operated Aircraft (ROA) UAS Classes. Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Mini UAS and Micro UAS Classes are not considered in this practice, since they do not undergo airworthiness certification.
1.2 Citations of Federal Aviation RegulationsWhen citing U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations in this practice, the citation references are based on the following Federal Aviation Regulation structure:
1.2.1 The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14 (14 CFR) comprises Aeronautics and Space Regulations. Chapter 1 of 14 CFR contains the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration and is subdivided into subchapters and parts:
The Parts are further subdivided into Subparts and sections.
1.2.2 This practice uses Part 21 as a template. Within the text of the practice:
14 CFR Chapter 1 means the whole of Chapter 1 of 14 CFR; and
Subchapter C means all of the Parts of Subchapter C of 14 CFR.
1.2.3 In compact notation, citation of section 1309 of Part 23, for example, may be designated as "section 23.1309."
1.3 Unmanned Aircraft SystemsAn Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) comprises an unmanned air vehicle, the remote control ground station that provides for the mission management and piloting of the air vehicle, data-links for the exchange of control and sensor payload data and all related interfaces. Any part of the overall system that could affect the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft is subject to the requirements of Part 21.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2006
• ICS: 49.020 - Aircraft and space vehicles in general
• Technical Committee: F38 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Drafting Committee: F38.01 - Airworthiness

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F2505-07 - Standard Practice for Application of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Aviation Regulations Part 21 Requirements to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) (Withdrawn 2014)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2007

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:F2505–06
Standard Practice for
Application of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal
Aviation Regulations Part 21 Requirements to Unmanned
1
Aircraft Systems (UAS)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 2505; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
STRUCTURE AND ASSUMPTIONS
Introduction—This standard practice (SP) document uses 14 CFR Part 21 as a template, retaining
all sections of Part 21, many of which will not be altered by the incorporation of certification
procedures for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The UAS certification procedures that have been
inserted into the Part 21 template may, therefore, be seen in the context of procedures prescribed for
other civil air vehicles that undergo airworthiness certification. The resulting document is perhaps
misnamed as a “standard practice” since it is, in fact, a prototype for a future version of Part 21 that
will accommodate UAS airworthiness certification.Anticipating this future version of Part 21, the SP
provides a framework for otherASTM standards development and standard-practice initiatives related
to UAS certification.
Scope of Changes to Part 21 Text—This version of the SP provides certification procedures for
unmanned aircraft systems in the light UAS class and in the Remotely OperatedAircraft (ROA/UAS)
Class. Unmanned aircraft systems in the mini UAS and micro UAS Classes are not considered in this
SP.
Certification Pathways—The SP anticipates that light UAS and the larger ROA/UAS will follow
distinctly different certification procedural pathways:
• Light UAS will be certified to consensus standards, in a process similar to that established for light
sport aircraft in the current Part 21 (section 21.190). This process will lead to issue of a special
certificate of airworthiness for the light UAS; and
• ROA/UAS will follow a conventional certification pathway described in Part 21, section 21.17(a),
leading to issue of a type certificate as described in Part 21, section 21.21, and issue of a standard
certificate of airworthiness under Part 21, section 21.183.
Applicable Requirements—The SP anticipates that the core requirements for the basis of
certification for the light UAS and ROA/UAS classes will be based on published design/airworthiness
standards that do not yet exist, specifically:
• Industry consensus standards for light UAS, prescribing airworthiness requirements for the issue
of a Special Certificate of Airworthiness for the smaller UAS; and
• Regulator-approvedAirworthiness Standards prescribing airworthiness requirements for the issue
of type certificates and changes to type certificates for ROA/UAS UAS.
Special-Classes Certification Pathway—The SP retains the Part 21 concept of special classes
aircraft, that is, “non-conventional aircraft for which airworthiness standards have not been issued
under this Subchapter (14 CFR Subchapter C).” UAS fit well within this definition of the special
classes, quoted here from Part 21, section 21.17(b); furthermore, the means for defining the
“applicable requirements” for a UAS basis of certification are clearly stated in section 21.17(b). Use
of this pathway for the early UAS certification candidates should be considered.
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F2505–06
1. Scope 3. Subpart A—General
2
1.1 In this practice, certification procedures are provided for 3.1 Scope—This practice prescribes (21.1(a)) :
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the Light UAS Class 3.1.1 Procedural requirements for the issue of type certifi-
and in the Remotely Operated Aircraft (ROA) UAS Classes. cates and changes to those certificates, the issue of production
UnmannedAircraft Systems in the Mini UAS and Micro UAS certificates, the issue of airworthiness certificates, and the issue
Classes are not considered in this practice, since they do not of export airworthiness approvals (21.1(a)(1));
undergo airworthiness certification. 3.1.2 Rules governing the holders of any certificate speci-
1.2 Citations of FederalAviation Regulations—Whenciting fied in 3.1.1 (21.1(a)(2)); and
U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations in this practice, the citation 3.1.3 Procedural requirements for the approval of certain
references are based on the following Federal Aviation Regu- materials, parts, processes, and appliances (21.1(a)(3)).
lation structure: 3.2 Products—For the purposes of this practice, the word
1.2.1 The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14 (14 CFR) “product”
...