ASTM F2690-08

Standard Guide for Suggested Procedures for Applying for a Flight Authority for an Unmanned Aircraft System: Part I and Part II (Withdrawn 2014)

SCOPE
1.1 This document is provided as an introductory guide to assist developers in interactions with CAAs. Part I provides guidance for obtaining a FA for experimental and developmental work, while Part II describes some of the issues to be addressed when seeking a Type Certificate. Many readers will not need to read Part II as it relates to a much more rigorous and structured procedure that is expected to be applied when the developer wishes to have the UAS used in commercial operations. The material presented here is primarily based on existing practices, procedures and regulations of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Many countries adopt FAA procedures directly, while others, such as the European authorities, Australia and Canada, work with the FAA to ensure that regulatory practices are harmonized to the maximum extent practical. The guidance presented here is anticipatory, since it is likely that new regulations specific to UAS will be issued in due course; the contents of this document builds on existing regulations while looking forward to future changes.
1.2 The FAA requires that a civil UAS, with the exception of those that are Public aircraft, must obtain an Experimental Certificate before operating in the National Airspace System (NAS). The procedures for obtaining a civil Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) are contained in 14 CFR Part 21 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR Part 21). Civil UAS that expect substantially routine access to the NAS, operating for compensation and hire, will need to undergo a full FAR Part 21 Type Certification, followed by the issuance of an FAA standard CofA. The existing procedures for Type Certification are discussed in Part II of this Guide. Based on experience with conventional civil aircraft certifications, the procedures and requirements associated with the type certification process and issuance of a standard CofA are demanding, costly and time-consuming. Since UAS represent a new class of aircraft, the procedure will no doubt be rigorous.
1.3 Many of the regulations and standards required for full application of standard airworthiness certification to UAS have not yet been developed. For an interim period, as the FAA and others develop and implement a civil UAS regulatory framework, the FAA is allowing individual civil UAS to have limited access to the NAS when they satisfy requirements for a FAR Part 21 Experimental Certificate. With an Experimental Certificate, operational use of the UAS is strictly defined and substantially limited, and the associated airworthiness requirements are less demanding than they would be for full, standard certification, consistent with the operational limits.
1.4 This is clearly a time of transition for civil UAS regulation. It is also a time of transition for the communities of users and manufacturers of civil UAS, many of whom have relatively little experience in the regulated civil aviation domains. This document is meant to provide a bridge for these UAS practitioners, as the era of regulated commercial UAS emerges.
1.5 ObjectivesThe objectives of this recommended practice document are to:
1.5.1 Present, in a single, manageable document, an overview of the aircraft certification procedures that will be adapted to the needs of UAS as the civil UAS regulatory framework takes shape. The procedures will be based largely on the procedures presently applied by the U.S. FAA;
1.5.2 Describe the procedures and requirements, based on currently available policy information, that govern the issuing of a FAR Part 21 Experimental Certificate for a UAS; and
1.5.3 Describe, in some detail, the processes that are anticipated for achieving Type Certification of a UAS.
1.6 OutlineThis document will begin with an overview of the regulatory structure as it currently is applied, followed by a discussion of some specific issues that relate to acquiring approval for operation of a UAS. This discussion includes a general description...

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2008
• Withdrawal Date: 10-Jun-2014
• ICS: 49.140 - Space systems and operations
• Technical Committee: F38 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Drafting Committee: F38.01 - Airworthiness

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: F2690 − 08
StandardGuide for
Suggested Procedures for Applying for a Flight Authority
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for an Unmanned Aircraft System: Part I and Part II
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2690; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) generally require that any person operating an Unmanned
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Aircraft System (UAS) hold a FlightAuthority (FA) issued by the CAA.At this time procedures and
requirements for FAs for UAS are under development. Similarly, development of UAS is in an early
stage, with several hundred types proposed by a multitude of organizations and individuals. In many
cases, proponents of UAS do not enjoy an extensive experience in aviation regulations and are
ill-equipped to interact with the CAAs on important safety issues. Following some discussion of
general issues in Sections 1 and 2, the remainder of this guide is divided into two parts, as discussed
below.
1. Scope 1.2 The FAA requires that a civil UAS, with the exception
of those that are Public aircraft, must obtain an Experimental
1.1 This document is provided as an introductory guide to
Certificate before operating in the National Airspace System
assist developers in interactions with CAAs. Part I provides
(NAS). The procedures for obtaining a civil Certificate of
guidance for obtaining a FAfor experimental and developmen-
Airworthiness (CofA) are contained in 14 CFR Part 21 of the
tal work, while Part II describes some of the issues to be
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Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR Part 21). Civil UAS that
addressed when seeking a Type Certificate. Many readers will
expect substantially routine access to the NAS, operating for
not need to read Part II as it relates to a much more rigorous
compensationandhire,willneedtoundergoafullFARPart21
and structured procedure that is expected to be applied when
Type Certification, followed by the issuance of an FAA
the developer wishes to have the UAS used in commercial
standard CofA. The existing procedures for Type Certification
operations. The material presented here is primarily based on
arediscussedinPartIIofthisGuide.Basedonexperiencewith
existing practices, procedures and regulations of the U.S.
conventional civil aircraft certifications, the procedures and
Federal Aviation Administration. Many countries adopt FAA
requirements associated with the type certification process and
procedures directly, while others, such as the European
issuance of a standard CofA are demanding, costly and
authorities,AustraliaandCanada,workwiththeFAAtoensure
time-consuming. Since UAS represent a new class of aircraft,
that regulatory practices are harmonized to the maximum
the procedure will no doubt be rigorous.
extent practical. The guidance presented here is anticipatory,
1.3 Many of the regulations and standards required for full
since it is likely that new regulations specific to UAS will be
application of standard airworthiness certification to UAS have
issued in due course; the contents of this document builds on
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not yet been developed. For an interim period, as the FAAand
existing regulations while looking forward to future changes.
others develop and implement a civil UAS regulatory
framework, the FAA is allowing individual civil UAS to have
limited access to the NAS when they satisfy requirements for
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F38 on Unmanned
a FAR Part 21 Experimental Certificate. With an Experimental
Aircraft Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F38.01 on
Certificate, operational use of the UAS is strictly defined and
Airworthiness.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2008. Published September 2008. DOI:
substantially limited, and the associated airworthiness require-
10.1520/F2690-08.
ments are less demanding than they would be for full, standard
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The Federal Aviation Administration has adopted the acronym UAS to
certification, consistent with the operational limits.
emphasize that the flight component is an aircraft, and it is part of the system. Other
jurisdictions continue to use the term vehicle. In this guide, the term aircraft will be
used, except where referring to an existing document.
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The most up-to-date official FAA policies and developing procedures are
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availablefromFederalAviationAdministration(FAA),800IndependenceAve.,SW, In this document the designation 14 CFR Part XX will be replaced by “FAR
Washington, DC 20591, http://www.faa.gov. Part XX”.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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