Basic definitions
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) means any unmanned aircraft and the equipment for its remote control.
Unmanned Aircraft (UAV) means any aircraft that operates or is intended to operate autonomously or remotely without a pilot on board.
The terms UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicles), Drones and RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems), which are widely used, refer to UAS.
Categories of Operation of UAS
The operation of military UAS is classified according to a risk-based approach into the following three categories:
- “Open” (“MIL-UAS-OPEN”), which refers to the operation of UAS, the risk of which is mitigated mainly through the application of a combination of operational restrictions, operator proficiency requirements and technical requirements of the UAS.
- “Specific” (“MIL-UAS-SPECIFIC”), which refers to the operation of an UAS where, having identified the risks, the determination of the risk mitigation measures results from an operational risk assessment through the application of a specific procedure and methodology.
- “Certified” (“MIL-UAS-CERTIFIED”), which refers to the operation of an UAS, where the risk arising from that operation can only be adequately mitigated by certifying the airworthiness of the UAS and ensuring its continuing airworthiness.
Information on the categorisation of the operation of military UAS can be found in the Airworthiness Bulletin HNMAA-AWB-00-005.
The procedure of classification of the operation of military UAS is set out in the following figure.
The HNMAA is responsible for the airworthiness certification only for UAS of the “Certified” Category.
Certified category of UAS
The operation of a military UAS shall be classified in the “Certified” Category if at least one of the following criteria is met:
- The UAV has a maximum characteristic dimension of more than 3 metres and is intended to fly over assemblies of persons.
- It is intended for the carriage of persons.
- It is intended for the carriage of dangerous goods and presents a high risk to third parties in the case of an accident.
- The UAV is armed and at least one segment of the flight is performed in an area which is not fully segragated (airspace) and controlled (land or sea surface).
- The risk of UAS operation that is calculated on the basis of a relevant operational risk assessment cannot be adequately mitigated without certification of the UAS airworthiness.