ICAO adopts new aviation standards for RPAS
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has adopted new aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) aimed at enhancing safety and advancing the global air navigation system, particularly in integrating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
President of the ICAO Council, Salvatore Sciacchitano, emphasised the importance of a performance-driven global air navigation system for sustainable aviation development.
During its 231st Session, the Council approved amendments to 15 Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and introduced a new “Procedure for Air Navigation Services (PANS) on Information Management.”
With the adoption of the new Part IV International Operations — Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems to Annex 6 – Operation of Aircraft, the framework for regulating international RPAS operations is now established.
RPAS operators will need to obtain a specific operator certificate (ROC), similar to a traditional air operator certificate (AOC), a significant step towards RPAS integration.
Previous Council decisions include regulatory structures for remote pilot licenses, RPAS airworthiness requirements, and provisions for C2 Links frequency bands, procedures, and systems.
These provisions address key international air navigation requirements: remote pilot license, certificate of airworthiness, and RPAS operator certificate.
ICAO Secretary General, Juan Carlos Salazar, stressed the importance of accurate flight information for sustainable air navigation and reducing aviation CO2 emissions.
The new Standards prioritise quality and secure data exchanges to minimise the risk of inaccurate or incomplete information provision to Air Traffic Management (ATM) service providers.
The implementation of the “Flight and Flow — Information for a Collaborative Environment” (FF-ICE) concept aims to optimise flight trajectories through collaborative data sharing at all stages of flight.
ICAO also addressed safety concerns related to multiple aircraft having identical 24-bit aircraft addresses, which can lead to inaccurate aircraft information in surveillance systems.
Additionally, updated Standards for helicopter chart development enhance safety in performance-based navigation for helicopter operations.
Improving data gathering and sharing is vital for accident prevention and effective response within the aviation community.
New Standards under the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) enhance aircraft tracking and distress systems following incidents like flights AF 447 and MH 370.
Expansion of the Flight Data Analysis Programme (FDAP) broadens safety data collection to identify precursor events and improve safety management.
Enhanced search and rescue (SAR) SARPs aim to expedite response times, enhance coordination between States, reduce risks at accident sites, and improve information for rescue operations.
