ASTM F3478-20
(Practice)Standard Practice for Development of a Durability and Reliability Flight Demonstration Program for Low-Risk Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) under FAA Oversight
Standard Practice for Development of a Durability and Reliability Flight Demonstration Program for Low-Risk Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) under FAA Oversight
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Demonstration plans developed in accordance with this practice will include all necessary content and key considerations to support an effective flight demonstration program aimed at approval or certification of UAS by the FAA through D&R demonstration.
4.2 This practice does not address planning requirements for UAS development testing. It is assumed that a manufacturer has completed all UAS design and development and is preparing demonstration programs to support compliance demonstration on a stable and controlled system configuration. Manufacturers who wish to prepare a detailed design and development program should review Specification F3298 for programmatic examples.
4.3 This practice is intended to be used on low-risk UAS that meet the following design criteria and operating limitations.
4.3.1 The UAS has a command and control link that enables the pilot-in-command to take contingency action.
4.3.2 The unmanned aircraft (UA) has a kinetic energy of ≤25 000 ft-lb calculated in accordance with methods specified within the MOC.
4.3.3 The UA is operated ≤400 ft above ground level (AGL).
4.3.4 No operations over open-air assemblies (operations over people are acceptable).
4.3.5 No flight into known icing.
4.3.6 Maximum of 20:1 aircraft to pilot ratio.
4.3.7 The UA is electrically powered (excludes internal combustion engines and fuel cells).
SCOPE
1.1 This standard practice is intended for low-risk UAS seeking type certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under 14 CFR Part 21.17(b) in accordance with the FAA durability and reliability (D&R) means of compliance (MOC). The definition of “low-risk UAS” does not necessarily align with other definitions found within corresponding ASTM standards (F3442/F3442M) or other UAS-related standards. For the purposes of this practice, “low-risk” is defined as a UAS operated in accordance with the concept of operations (CONOPs), eligibility criteria, and kinetic energy threshold specified in the G-1 Issue Paper (which will be provided to the applicant by the FAA). See 4.3 for design criteria and operating limitations for low-risk UAS.
1.2 This standard practice establishes a common methodology and key considerations for the development of minimum flight plans for low-risk UAS that demonstrate aircraft reliability as part of a D&R MOC.
1.3 The scope of this standard practice encompasses D&R planning, data collection, and reporting.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. This is not intended to limit the systems of units used for design, development testing, or demonstration testing. However, the units of measurement used on pilot-facing placards and markings and manuals must be the same as those used on the corresponding equipment with recognition that international aviation utilizes feet for altitude and knots for airspeed as operational parameters.
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3478 − 20
Standard Practice for
Development of a Durability and Reliability Flight
Demonstration Program for Low-Risk Unmanned Aircraft
1
Systems (UAS) under FAA Oversight
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3478; 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.
1. Scope 1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This standard practice is intended for low-risk UAS
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
seeking type certification by the Federal Aviation Administra-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
tion (FAA) under 14 CFR Part 21.17(b) in accordance with the
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
FAA durability and reliability (D&R) means of compliance
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
(MOC).The definition of “low-risk UAS” does not necessarily
align with other definitions found within correspondingASTM
2. Referenced Documents
standards (F3442/F3442M) or other UAS-related standards.
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
For the purposes of this practice, “low-risk” is defined as a
F2908 Specification for Unmanned Aircraft Flight Manual
UAS operated in accordance with the concept of operations
(UFM) for an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
(CONOPs), eligibility criteria, and kinetic energy threshold
F2909 Specification for Continued Airworthiness of Light-
specified in the G-1 Issue Paper (which will be provided to the
weight Unmanned Aircraft Systems
applicantbytheFAA).See4.3fordesigncriteriaandoperating
F3060 Terminology for Aircraft
limitations for low-risk UAS.
F3298 Specification for Design, Construction, and Verifica-
1.2 This standard practice establishes a common methodol-
tion of Lightweight Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
ogy and key considerations for the development of minimum
F3341/F3341M Terminology for Unmanned Aircraft Sys-
flight plans for low-risk UAS that demonstrate aircraft reliabil-
tems
ity as part of a D&R MOC.
F3442/F3442M Specification for Detect and Avoid System
1.3 The scope of this standard practice encompasses D&R Performance Requirements
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planning, data collection, and reporting.
2.2 FAA Documents:
FAAD&RMOC dated2020-02-28(AvailablefromtheFAA
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
to D&R applicants)
standard.This is not intended to limit the systems of units used
FAA Order 8110.54A Instructions for Continued Airworthi-
for design, development testing, or demonstration testing.
ness Responsibilities, Requirements, and Contents
However, the units of measurement used on pilot-facing
placards and markings and manuals must be the same as those
3. Terminology
used on the corresponding equipment with recognition that
international aviation utilizes feet for altitude and knots for 3.1 Definitions—See Terminology F3341/F3341M and Ter-
airspeed as operational parameters. minology F3060 for more definitions and abbreviations.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.1 low-risk UA, n—an unmanned aircraft with a kinetic
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
energy of ≤25 000 ft-lb. This includes everything that is on
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
board or otherwise attached to the aircraft at maximum gross
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
weight.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
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This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F38 on Unmanned contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Aircraft Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F38.01 on Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Airworthiness. the ASTM website.
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Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020. Published November 2020. DOI: Available from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 800 Independence
10.1520/F3478-20. Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20591, http://www.faa.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F3478 − 20
3.2.1.1 Discussion—The definition of “low-risk” is unique 5.4 A released and controlled UFM developed in accor-
to the
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