UAS in the National Airspace System

ASCI 530 

John Van Geem


April 14, 2017



The Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is a common collision avoidance detection system used by aircraft within the National Airspace System (NAS). TCAS can give an early alert or warning if two aerospace platforms are on imminent trajectory for mid-air crash or collision. In order for a airframe to use TCAS, it has to be fitted with a transponder that emits a specific frequency for detection amongst other TCAS systems. However, TCAS is only a requirement on aircraft with a weight of over 12,600 lbs or above (FAA, 2009).
According to the Department of Defense UAS Groups, which designates they type of UAS according to size and operating altitude capabilities, only groups 4 and 5 could even be close to TCAS standards, though Group 3 is able to reach altitudes just under flight level 180. Examples of the types of UAS in group 3 are the RQ-7B Shadow, RQ-21 Blackjack, and NAVMAR RQ-23 Tigershark (Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, 2012).  
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the organization who mandates the use of TCAS or likewise collision avoidance systems. It is highly likely that the ICAO is working on smaller more mobile modifications to the TCAS system for UAS usage, since their mission statement is to ensure safe and orderly growth of international transports. It is plausible that requirements will be made in order or operational capabilities, for example the higher the altitude, the more priority there will be to monitor it’s location. Regardless of who lays down the law, transponder signals will need to be fitted in all UAS to eventually secure the National Airspace System. 

References

 FAA Advisory (September, 2009) Circular AC 20-151A - Airworthiness Approval of Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS II), Versions 7.0 & 7.1 and Associated Mode S Transponders


Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (April 2012). "Department of Defense Report to Congress on Future Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training, Operations, and Sustainability" (PDF). U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 18 September 2013.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Model Request and Proposal for small UAS development

ASCI 530 – Unmanned Aerospace Systems Systems Development and Test & Evaluation (T&E) Activity 7.4 – Assignment: Request for Proposal John Van Geem Mission Overview Develop a hand launched, small UAS, which may use used to identify and geolocate victims involved in flooding or equally un-traversable terrain due to natural disasters. UAS must be able to be transported in the bed of a standard pick-up truck, and launched by a single individual.  Conceptual Design, Research, and Detailed designs should take more than five years. Another five years may be allocated to build the prototype, modify and implement all developments, and obtain a certification from the Regulatory Authority.  1.   Transportability - Entire system should be able to fit in the back of one standard civilian pick up truck.  1.1.  The Control station and Air Vehicle Element may transported in two separate cases 1.2.  The control station case must not exceed 50 abs...
Read more
Scenario: Two subsystems – 1) Guidance, Navigation & Control [flying correctly] and 2) Payload delivery [spraying correctly] have attempted to save costs by purchasing off-the-shelf hardware, rather than a custom design, resulting in both going over their originally allotted weight budgets. Each team has suggested that the OTHER team reduce weight to compensate. The UAS will not be able to carry sufficient weight to spread the specified (Marketing has already talked this up to customers) amount of fertilizer over the specified area without cutting into the fuel margin. The safety engineers are uncomfortable with the idea of changing the fuel margin at all. How would you go about fixing the problem? Solution: Both the Guidance, Navigation, Control team, and Payload delivery team need to draft up a new proposal on how much it would cost if they built their own units in house. Within the proposals I would have them provide options for construction outlines for the lightest po...
Read more