ASTM_F_2909_-_14.pdf

Designation:F290914Standard Practice forMaintenance and Continued Airworthiness of SmallUnmanned Aircraft Systems(sUAS)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2909;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This specification establishes the standard practice forthe maintenance and continued airworthiness of sUAS.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F2908 Specification for Aircraft Flight Manual(AFM)for aSmall Unmanned Aircraft System(sUAS)F3005 Specification for Batteries for Use in Small Un-manned Aircraft Systems(sUAS)3.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 command and control(C2)link(s),nsafety-criticalradio-frequency(RF)link(s)between ground control station(GCS)and the small unmanned aircraft(sUA).3.1.2 flight control system,FCS,ncomposed of systemcomponents intended to take GCS commands via a C2 link andcontrol flight control surfaces and propulsion systems.3.1.3 ground control station,GCS,na land-or sea-basedcontrol center that provides the facilities for human control ofsUA.3.1.4 manufacturer,nentity responsible for assembly andintegration of components and subsystems to create a safeoperating sUAS.3.1.5 propulsion system,nconsists of one or more powerplants(for example,a combustion engine or an electric motorand,if used,a propeller or rotor)together with the associatedinstallation of fuel system,control and electrical power supply(for example,batteries,electronic speed controls,fuel cells,orother energy supply).3.1.6 shall versus should versus may,vuse of the word“shall”implies that a procedure or statement is mandatory andmust be followed to comply with this standard,“should”implies recommended,and“may”implies optional at thediscretion of the supplier,manufacturer,or operator.Since“shall”statements are requirements,they include sufficientdetail needed to define compliance(for example,thresholdvalues,test methods,oversight,reference to other standards).“Should”statements are provided as guidance towards theoverall goal of improving safety,and could include onlysubjective statements.“Should”statements also represent pa-rameters that could be used in safety evaluations,and couldlead to development of future requirements.“May”statementsare provided to clarify acceptability of a specific item orpractice,and offer options for satisfying requirements.3.1.7 small unmanned aircraft system,sUAS,ncomposedof the small unmanned aircraft(sUA)and all required on-boardsubsystems,payload,control station,other required off-boardsubsystems,any required launch and recovery equipment,andC2 links between the sUAand the control station.For purposesof this standard UAS is synonymous with the ICAO definitionof a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System(RPAS)and UA issynonymous with the ICAO definition of a Remotely PilotedAircraft(RPA).3.1.8 supplier,nany entity engaged in the design andproduction of components(other than payload if it is notrequired for safe operation of the sUAS)used on an sUAS.3.1.8.1 DiscussionWherethesupplierisnotthemanufacturer,the supplier can only ensure that the componentscomply with accepted consensus standards.3.1.9 support equipment,nall associated equipment,whether ground based or airborne,used to enable safe opera-tion of the sUA.This includes all elements of the controlstation,C2 links,telemetry,navigation,communicationsequipment,as well as equipment that may be used to launchand recover the aircraft.3.2 Acronyms:1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F38 on UnmannedAircraft Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F38.02 on FlightOperations.Current edition approved Jan.15,2014.Published January 2014.DOI:10.1520/F2909-14.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 3.2.1 AFMAircraft Flight Manual3.2.2 ATCAir Traffic Control3.2.3 C2Command and Control3.2.4 CGCenter of Gravity3.2.5 FCSFlight Control System3.2.6 FTSFlight Termination System3.2.7 GAAGoverning Aviation Authority3.2.8 GCSGround Control Station3.2.9 GPSGlobal Positioning System3.2.10 INSInertial Navigation System3.2.11 PICPilot in Command3.2.12 RFRadio Frequency3.2.13 sUASmall Unmanned Aircraft3.2.14 sUASSmall Unmanned Aircraft S