Challenges to the development of an airworthiness regulatory framework for unmanned aircraft systems

This paper presents some of the challenges associated with development of an airworthiness regulatory framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The risk paradigm and a simple model describing the regulatory trade-space are developed. The model is used to explain fundamental differences between the regulation of manned and unmanned aircraft. General challenges are presented and the possible regulatory approaches are discussed. Moving forward, it is concluded that the development of an effective airworthiness regulatory framework for UAS should follow a systematic and risk-based process of: 1) specifying safety policy and the safety objectives, 2) developing an airworthiness classification framework, and 3) identifying a regulatory approach suitable to each airworthiness category. These activities should be undertaken before the development of low-level airworthiness standards and procedures.