The EASA Technical Opinion on
Unmanned Aircraft (UA)related to A‐NPA:2015‐10

Sylvette Chollet . Tokyo 17 February 2016

TE.GEN.00409‐001

Table of ContentsA) Background about European legislation in the Unmanned
Aircrafts (UA) domainB) New regulatory framework: EASA Technical Opinion andPrinciples
C) Categories of operation proposed by the Technical OpinionD) Implementation Roadmap for the new regulatory framework

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 20162

Table of ContentsA) Background about European legislation in the Unmanned
Aircrafts (UA) domainB) New regulatory framework: EASA Technical Opinion andPrinciples
C) Categories of operation proposed by the Technical OpinionD) Implementation Roadmap for the new regulatory framework

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 2016

3

The EU Aviation Safety System (1)EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 2016

4

The EU Aviation Safety System (2)Proposes rules
Issues somecertificates andapprovals

EuropeanAviation Safety
AgencyEuropeanCommission

Performs inspections

National Aviation Authorities

Manages European
Aviation Safety
Programme

Issue most certificates, approvals andlicences

Adopts rulesLaunches
infringement
procedureManages Safety List

Oversee organisations
Implement EU law

Industry5

The EU Aviation Safety System (3)Under current EU regulations , EASA is responsible for aircrafts
with a mass higher than 150 kg which are not used for “state”
operations.
So today each EASA Member State has its own legislation for
UA: no harmonisation.
Last Dec 7, 2015 the European Commission published the“aviation strategy package” which includes a proposal for a new
Basic Regulation, which intends to change this situation,
proposing common EU rules for all UA
The EASA Technical Opinion has been developed in parallel withthe proposed Basic Regulation change and presents concrete
proposals for a regulatory framework for UA operations and aroadmap to put them into practice
EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 20166

Table of ContentsA) Background about European legislation in the Unmanned
Aircrafts (UA) domainB) New regulatory framework: EASA Technical Opinion andPrinciples
C) Categories of operation proposed by the Technical OpinionD) Implementation Roadmap for the new regulatory framework

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 2016

7Principles of proposed approach: 3 pillars
Operation centric● Consequences of loss of control highly

dependent on operating environment

Risk based• 3 categories: open, specific, certified• Commercial as well as non commercialSmooth● No undue burden on the aviation system

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 20168

Table of ContentsA) Background about European legislation in the Unmanned
Aircrafts (UA) domainB) New regulatory framework: EASA Technical Opinion andPrinciples
C) Categories of operation proposed by the Technical Opinion‐ Open‐ Specific : Operation Risk Assessment (SORA)‐ CertifiedD) Implementation Roadmap for the new regulatory framework
EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 2016

9Categories of Operation

OPEN:

SPECIFIC

Low risk

Increased risk

No involvement of Aviation
Authority

Approval based on SpecificOperation Risk assessment(SORA)

Limitations (Visual line of sight,
Maximum Altitude, distancefrom airport and sensitivezones)
Flights over crowds not
permitted except for harmless
subcategory

Approved by NAA possibly
supported by accredited QE
unless approved operator withprivilege
Manual of Operationsmandatory to obtain approval

CERTIFIED
Regulatory regime similar tomanned aviation
Certified operations to be
defined by implementing rules
Today EASA accepts applicationin its present remit
Some systems (Datalink, Detectand Avoid, …) may receive an
independent approval

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201610

Open Category: “Harmless” sub‐category
Specific harmless thresholds TBC
with Impact Assessment Activity
OPEN
Harmless < 250 g
A0A1
A2< 25 kg

Light / Very light market regulation

Product Legislation

Subject to local restrictions
Do not operate recklessly
Follow operating instructions and does and don’ts
Including FPV (First Person View)

Instructions manual

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201611

Open Category: A0 – A2 subcategories
Product and Pilot Requirements
Product Legislation

Product must comply with legislation

Instructions manual

OPENHLA0A1
A2< 250 gAdequate pilot competence required< 25 Kg

Mandatory Registration

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201612

Open Category: A0 – A2 subcategories
Operational and Functional Requirements
Compliance with Identification requirements
HLA0A1A2OPEN< 250 g< 25 Kg

Compliance with no drone zones and special dronezones supported with automatic geo‐limitation
technology

Identification

Observe minimum distance from uninvolved
persons, fly only in VLOS and do not fly over crowds

150 m
Geo‐limitation

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201613

Table of ContentsA) Background about European legislation in the Unmanned
Aircrafts (UA) domainB) New regulatory framework: EASA Technical Opinion andPrinciples
C) Categories of operation proposed by the Technical Opinion‐ Open‐ Specific : Operation Risk Assessment (SORA)‐ CertifiedD) Implementation Roadmap for the new regulatory framework
EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201614

Specific category – SORA Elements
Area of Operation
Airspace
UA Design
Operational Procedure

Risk
Assessment
Operation
Authorisation(OA)

Pilot Competence

Limitations

Organizational Factors

Speed

Limitations
MTOM…

Effect on Environment

Improvements
NeededEASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201615

Specific category – Standard Solutions
Industry and Standardisation bodies areexpected to provide standard solutions toaddress the risks associated with the use of UAin standard scenarios
These solutions can be envisaged as pre‐defined templates / forms of simplified risk
assessments
If the operation “fits” the form (all the fields
can satisfactorily be compiled and/or criteria
positively matched) the approval should begranted
In this case the operation approval process
would be very simple and would not require
the know‐how of traditional aviation
organizations

Operation “Media use in urban
environment”

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201616Some standards Activities
Industrial InspectionsPower centrals
Nuclear…

Activity …

MiningNavalAviation…

Precision farming
Monitoring
Fertilizer spreading…

Infrastructures inspections
Railways
Power lines..

….
EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201617Standard Activity “Media Use in Urban
Environment”
Area of Operation
Population density during operation < …
Presence of crowds: no
Traffic overflown: no…

Activity “Media use in urban
environment”

Airspace template
Nearest airport area > … Km
Low level helicopter traffic: no…

UA Design
Weight < … Kg including payload
Dangerous materials: no
MTBCF (minimum time between critical failures) > …
…

Operations Template
Max flight altitude < …
Max speed: …
Operation duration, number of operations forecasted, …
EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201618

Table of ContentsA) Background about European legislation in the Unmanned
Aircrafts (UA) domainB) New regulatory framework: EASA Technical Opinion andPrinciples
C) Categories of operation proposed by the Technical Opinion‐ Open‐ Specific : Operation Risk Assessment (SORA)‐ CertifiedD) Implementation Roadmap for the new regulatory framework
EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 2016

19

“Certified” category
Implementing rules included in existing rules for manned aviation
Drone andcomponents
Type Certificates(Full / Restricted)

Certificates of
Airworthiness

EuropeanTechnical Standard
Order Approvals(ETSO) (option)

Organisations

Personnel

Certification
Specifications

DesignOrganisation
Approval

Licensed pilot

Safety Objectives

Production
Organisation
Approval

Remote Operator
Certificate (ROC)

Complemented byTechnicalStandards

MaintenanceStandard forOperationalaspects

Maintenance
Organisation
Approval
Training
Organisation
Approval

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 2016

Standard forLicencing aspects20Table of ContentsA) Background about European legislation in the Unmanned
Aircrafts (UA) domainB) New regulatory framework: EASA Technical Opinion andPrinciples
C) Categories of operation proposed by the Technical Opinion:D) Implementation Roadmap for the new regulatory
framework

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201621

Roadmap
Standards Development

Rulemaking programme

Adoption ofnew basic
Adoption
regulationof IRs

Definitionof CSs andAMCs

Impact Assessments

Safety Promotion and Communication Plan2015

2017
EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 2016

2018
22

EU Roadmap :Rulemaking programme• CS for unmanned aeroplanes / rotorcrafts• IR for Open Category• IR for Specific Category• Adaptation of IR from manned aviation• Establishment of additional subcategories

Impact Assessments

Standards Development inCoordination withStandardization Bodies• Specific technical requirements, minimum distances, limitedaccess to some operational areas• Identification• Geo‐limitation• Pilot Competence• Standard cases for specific category•…

International Harmonization
and Research
Safety Promotion andCommunication Plan

• Harmonization: ICAO, JARUS• Research: EDA, ESA, SESAR• Addressing stakeholders at large (IOs, MSs, EU institutions, generalpublic, ..)• Leaflets with dos and dont’s , posters, videos,..
• Includes cooperation with law enforcement agencies

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201623

Summary: EASA Technical Opinion on UA

EASA Technical opinion:
Foundation for future work
Illustrate articles and essential requirements of the proposed
Basic Regulation
Guidance for Authorities for further development of their rules
Provides roadmap
You will find it at:
http://www.easa.europa.eu/document‐library/opinions/opinion‐technical‐nature

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201624

Conclusion
This technical opinion is an Important step for safe,
secure, environmentally friendly Unmanned Aircraft
Operations, respecting privacy of the citizens
However significant work is still ahead of us
EASA is committed to work in cooperation with all
stakeholders

EASA Technical Opinion on Unmanned Aircraft . Tokyo Feb 17, 201625

Thank you for your attention!