Considerations for a roadmap for the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in South African airspace
Date
2008-12
Authors
Ingham, L. A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology is classified as being disruptive since it has the
potential to radically change the utilization of airspace. Most unmanned vehicles are aimed at
military applications, yet civilian applications of unmanned aerial vehicle technology could
benefit South Africa considerably.
At present, the lack of UAV regulations and standards precludes UAVs from being certified
to operate on a file and fly basis in un-segregated civilian airspace. The inability for UAVs to
be certified because of a lack of standards creates a “chicken and egg” – “stale mate”
situation. If principles such as “equivalence”, initially proposed by Eurocontrol are adopted
in South Africa, it then follows that equivalent standards used by manned aircraft could be
used by UAVs. UAVs must therefore be tested and evaluated in order to prove compliance
with equivalent existing manned aircraft regulations in the foreseeable future until UAV
regulations and standards become available.
It has been suggested that specific UAV missions such as maritime patrol, border control,
search & rescue, and cargo transport could fulfil current requirements. Design considerations
and possible concepts of UAV operations, maintenance and training that will enable UAVs to
satisfy the immediate South African strategic requirements whilst complying with existing
airspace and airworthiness regulations have been proposed in this document while further
UAV specific standards and regulations are being developed.
UAV testing is an essential part of proving the enabling technology, and part of the process of
gaining acceptance into wider airspace. Fortunately, flight test methods and procedures
applicable to manned aircraft are directly applicable to UAVs, while systems unique to UAVs
can be adapted from existing procedures applied to missiles and military UAVs.
Once UAVs are developed and tested, it will be necessary to start full scale operations. Some
considerations will be necessary during mission planning. Air traffic management regulations
however will prohibit some UAVs from operating in all airspace until enabling technology is
developed and tested, while some existing UAVs will never be permitted to “file and fly”.
This study also analyses existing airspace and UAV platforms in order to identify the airspace
and platforms that will have the most chance of being successfully permitted to “file and fly”
in civil airspace.
For South Africa to advance as a UAV operating and manufacturing nation, it is therefore
essential to compile a roadmap that will guide the process of developing, certifying and
operating UAVs. The roadmap must include an interim process, as well as stating the end
objective, which is “file and fly”.
This South African UAV Roadmap proposal is based on international research that uses
documentation and lessons learned from elsewhere to guide the process for creating UAV
regulations and standards, while allowing existing UAV operations to expand into the existing airspace in order for further UAV research to take place. This roadmap proposal is the
conclusion of a 3 year study, and references to the applicable literature are made throughout
the document.
Description
Thesis (PhD (Electrical and Electronic Engioneering))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
Keywords
Unmanned aerial vehicles, UAV, Theses -- Electrical and electronic engineering, Dissertations -- Electrical and electronic engineering