Background

The introduction of unmanned aircraft operations is probably the most revolutionary event in the aviation world from its early beginning. RPAS come into market with many operational flavors, which differentiates, from all other aviation users, mainly for the type of operations enhanced based on aircraft dynamics. Nevertheless, it is commonly recognized that Airspace Management and future ATM system will not be adapted to those. Instead RPAS will need to fit in by accommodating rulemaking and future airspace performance.

Certified avionics for RPAS

While today the use of GNSS receivers is widely used and present on most RPAS on-board payloads, those are mainly considering only requirements for the type of service the operators offer to their customers, and not based on airspace or navigation performance. For example, RTK and DGPS receivers are mostly used for precise mapping and agriculture applications aiming at under meter accuracy precision.

The lack of an RPAS regulation for airworthiness and operational approval into civil airspace makes that nowadays operations are limited to segregated airspace and under visual line of sight conditions only, and that operators and manufacturers are still not so much concerned about the integration of certified avionics on-board. Nevertheless, and again based on the fact that RPAS will be required to accommodate airspace performance as per other airspace users, is already advanced a future need for low weight certified suits, in particular for equipping RPAS platforms that weighs <150Kg units, which are the most promising ones to come into game in the short/mid-term. As such, receiver manufacturers are already announcing on their websites OEM suited for RPAS ready for certification.

European Roadmap for the introduction of RPAS operations

EGNOS: the cost-effective solution

Definitely, RPAS industry represents a great opportunity for GNSS augmented services, like EGNOS, based on the higher levels of integrity provided (Safety of Life service), of particular interest for new Very Low Level operations performed by light units, similar in a manner to low level routes being enhanced by EGNOS into the rotorcraft sector. Actually, rotorcraft operators are getting much into the RPAS business by recognizing that, through those units, they might be able to improve some of the services provided to customers. That is the case of INAER, supporting and backing up this proposal, as first European approved POA for RPA systems. Liaison with Aviation Authorities will be a clear trigger in order to understand the ultimate requirements that not only RPAS platform will need to accommodate, but also the operator.

REAL represents a great opportunity for EGNOS, by involving two RPAS private operators currently on discussions with their National Aviation Authorities for defining the applicable requirements for operational approval in two concrete scenarios where EGNOS might provide important benefits throughout the on-board navigation and surveillance functions. The development of an EGNOS certifiable suit, based on existing OEM hardware and guidance software, should contribute to the ultimate airworthiness and operational approval by raising up safety levels equivalent to manned aircraft operations, such as LPV and Low Level Route type of operations.

REAL Project has received funding from the European GNSS Agency within the framework program "EGNOS Adoption in Aviation"