The routine integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into civil airspace presents many technical, operational, and policy challenges.
Airspace Integration Alternatives for Unmanned Aircraft
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The routine integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into civil airspace presents many technical, operational, and policy challenges. Foremost among these are 1) the lack of an onboard capability to see and avoid other aircraft; and 2) coping mechanisms for dealing with vulnerabilities of the UAS command and control link. This paper discusses alterative integration approaches that ensure risks are mitigated, overall system safety is not degraded, and existing flows of manned aircraft are undisrupted. Specific examples associated with small UAS, ground-based sense and avoid approaches, and UAS flying in international oceanic airspace are discussed. Trade-offs among these alternatives are explored in terms of implementation timeframes, development risks, and implications for various stakeholders.