Defence

By Peter La Franchi in Paris

The US Federal Aviation Administration is exploring potential establishment of a three-category classification and certification system for unmanned air vehicles as part of a roadmap for UAV integration into the US national airspace system planned for release in October.

The new classification system would include provisions for “file and fly” of new-generation unmanned systems under a category known as “standard”, with this representing UAVs that comply with all elements of the code.

However, the FAA is warning that few systems are likely to achieve “standard” classification in the near term. It expects virtually all existing UAV systems to be classified under a revised “restricted” classification.

The new classifications would also include a category being referred to as “lightly restricted” to cover aircraft currently restricted to flight within visual sight as the primary basis of risk mitigation. This category includes radio-controlled model aircraft, particularly model helicopters adapted for commercial use in aerial photography; small blimps used for advertising; and agricultural UAVs.

The “lightly restricted” classification represents systems that “are giving us a good deal of problems right now and we are really wrestling, on a daily basis, with this particular group”, says Steve Swartz, from the FAA’s recently established unmanned aircraft programme office.

He says that the agency is aware of a flying jet-powered model Airbus A380 airliner in the USA that is larger than a single-seat light aircraft. “We are worried about where a model stops being a model,” he says.