Remote Control: Remotely Piloted Air Systems - current and future UK use - Defence Committee Contents


Annex B: Nomenclature


Modern definitions of unmanned aircraft system terminology can be found in:

·  Civil Aviation Authority: Cap 722 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations in UK Airspace - Guidance[113]

·  Military Aviation Authority: MAA02: Military Aviation Authority Master Glossary[114]

·  Ministry of Defence: The UK Approach To Unmanned Aircraft Systems Joint Doctrine Note 2/11 (JDN 2/11)[115]

In addition, the nomenclature employed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) provides a legally binding series of definitions.

Abbreviations and glossary of terms used in the report
TermAbbreviation Definition
Air Navigation Order ANO
Aircraft Operating

Authority

AOAThe Aircraft Operating Authority shall be any one of:

a. The military commander of a discrete organisation empowered by a Letter of Delegation from the Secretary of State through the Chiefs of Staff to operate specified types of UK Military Aircraft. AoA is a command chain function, or

b. The Chief Executive of a MoD agency empowered by a Letter of Delegation from the Secretary of State through the Chiefs of Staff to operate specified types of UK Military Aircraft, or

c. The Chief Executive of a commercial company granted approval by the MoD regulator to operate specific types of UK Military Aircraft.

Beyond (Visual) Line of Sight (CAA) BLOS (BVLOS)Operation of a UA beyond a distance where the Remote Pilot is able to respond to or avoid other airspace users by visual means.
Command and Control C2
Command and Control Link C2 LinkThe data link between the remotely-piloted aircraft and the remote pilot station for the purposes of managing the flight.
Department for International Development DfID
Department for Transport DfT
Detect and Avoid The capability to see, sense or detect conflicting traffic or other hazards and take the appropriate action.
European Aviation Safety Agency EASA
Electro-magnetic Environment EME
Ground Control Station GCSSee Remote Pilot Station
High Altitude Long Endurance (MoD) HALEExample platforms include: Global Hawk
Improvised Explosive Device IED
International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO
International Security Assistance Force ISAF
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance ISR
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance ISTAR
Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems JARUSExpert group of National Aviation Authorities (NAAs) and regional aviation safety organisations.
(Visual) Line of Sight (CAA) LOS (VLOS)Operating within Visual Line of Sight means that the Remote Pilot is able to maintain direct, unaided (other than corrective lenses) visual contact with the UA which is sufficient to monitor its flight path in relation to other aircraft, persons, vessels, vehicles and structures for the purpose of avoiding collisions.
Low ObservableLO Low-observable (stealthy) through passive or active signature reduction techniques.
Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MoD) MALEExample platforms include: Reaper, Heron, Hermes 900.
Ministry of Defence MoD
Remote Pilot A person charged by the operator with duties essential to the operation of a remotely-piloted aircraft and who manipulates the flight controls, as appropriate, during flight time.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft RPAAn unmanned aircraft which is piloted from a remote pilot station.
Remotely Piloted Air(craft) System

(MAA)

RPASAn unmanned air system includes a number of elements such as the ground-based control unit, ground-launch system and the Remotely Piloted Air Vehicle (RPAV) and all associated flight safety critical elements.
Remotely Piloted Air Vehicle

(MAA)

RPAVA RPAV is defined as an aircraft which does not carry personnel and:

a. Is capable of sustained flight by aerodynamic means.

b. Is remotely piloted or automatically flies a pre-programmed flight profile.

c. Is reusable.

d. Is not classified as a guided weapon or similar one shot device designed for the delivery of munitions.

Remote Pilot Station RPSThe component of the remotely-piloted aircraft system containing the equipment used to pilot the remotely-piloted aircraft.
Sense and Avoid See 'Detect and Avoid'
Unmanned Aircraft

(CAA)

UAAn aircraft which is intended to operate with no human pilot on board, as part of an Unmanned Aircraft System. Moreover a UA:

is capable of sustained flight by aerodynamic means;

is remotely piloted or capable of autonomous operation;

is reusable; and is not classified as a guided weapon or similar one-shot device designed for the delivery of munitions.

Note: RPA is considered a subset of UA.

Unmanned Air(craft) System(s)

(MAA)

UASObsolete: An unmanned air system includes a number of elements such as the ground-based control unit, ground-launch system and the

Remotely Piloted Air Vehicle (RPAV) and all associated flight safety-critical elements.

See: Remotely Piloted Air System

Unmanned Air Vehicle

(MAA)

UAVObsolete: A UAV is defined as an aircraft which does not carry personnel and:

a. Is capable of sustained flight by aerodynamic means.

b. Is remotely piloted or automatically flies a pre-programmed flight profile.

c. Is reusable.

d. Is not classified as a guided weapon or similar one shot device designed for the delivery of munitions.

See: Remotely Piloted Air Vehicle

Unmanned Combat Air System UCASA class of RPA with low-observable (stealth) design making it suitable for applications in high threat environments.
United States Air Force USAF

Sources:  Civil Aviation Authority - CAP 722 Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace - Guidance

  Military Aviation Authority - MAA02: Master Glossary

Ministry of Defence - The UK Approach To Unmanned Aircraft Systems Joint Doctrine Note 2/11 (JDN 2/11)


113   CAP 722 Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace - Guidance, Civil Aviation Authority, August 2012. Available at: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP722.pdf Back

114   MAA02: Military Aviation Authority Master Glossary, Military Aviation Authority, Issue 4, August 2013. Available at: http://www.maa.mod.uk/regulation/about_policy.htm Back

115   Ministry of Defence, The UK Approach To Unmanned Aircraft Systems Joint Doctrine Note 2/11 (JDN 2/11), March 2011. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jdn-2-11-the-uk-approach-to-unmanned-aircraft-systems Back


 
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Prepared 25 March 2014