UAS in civil applications – New challenges -

General Aviation Safety Program

Diana Dumitrache – President

Introduction

General aviation is a very diverse segment of the civil aviation wich encompasses activities ranging from recreational flying with - non-powered aircraft to complex operation of high-

performance business jets (Europe) and even activities of civil UAVs.

Purpose

To ensure and to maintain a high safety and professionalism standard for the general aviation activities in general and specifically for the activities with aircrafts with

maximum take-off mass (MTOM) below 2,250 kg.

A common strategy and partnership!

Current situation

Most countries have authorities that oversee the general aviation activities, adhering to the standardized codes of the 

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) or European Air Safety Agency (EASA )

but every country do this according to its own rules

and the activities with ultralight and non powered aircrafts are under the responsibility of National Aviation Authorities

Current situation

• NO global comprehensive statistics on safety of aircrafts with maximum take-off mass (MTOM) below 2,250 kg and the partial data available gives only some indication.

•EASA Safety Review 2012 – first statistics for aircrafts with MTOM below 2250 kg

BUT

• the level of reporting and the quality of the reports differs by EASA MS,

•66% of all the accidents in 2012 were reported by France, Germany and the UK (together),

• exposure data for light aircraft continues to be unavailable,

• data are not corellated with data regarding aircraft usage, like number of flight hours (this data are not available in NAA),

•Operating hours regarding gliders, balloons and aircraft such as homebuilt are also not recorded, or are, only in several EASA MS,

• Exposure data for microlight (including microlight aeroplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes and gliders) and for “Others” are usually entrusted to the aircraft owner, who very seldom records or provides it.

Current statistics in Europe

data are not corellated with data regarding aircraft usage like number of flight hours

an overall slightly decreasing trend of fatal accidents for the most common aircraft categories (MTOM <2.250 kg)

BUT

Current statistics in Europe

Most accidents take place during Pleasure and Flight Training

Current statistics in Europe

The majority (42 %) of light aircraft involved in fatal accidents between 2008 and 2012 were aeroplanes

Microlight aircraft were involved in 27%, followed by gliders with 20%

Current statistics in Europe

the category assigned most frequently to fatal accidents involving aeroplanes was Loss of Control

Conclusion regarding statistics

Even if data are not corellated with data regarding aircraft usage like number of flight hours or number of aircrafts

Most accidents take place during

Pleasure (56%)

and

Flight Training (19%)

aircraft involved in fatal accidents:

- 42 % light aircrafts- 27% Microlight- 20% gliders

the category assigned most frequently to fatal accidents involving aeroplanes was Loss of Control

Conclusion

•There is need of a General Aviation Safety Program focused on:

•Training (in concordance with EASA studies, 19% of accidents take place during instruction),

• Safety analysis and data sharing,

• Risk awareness and safety promotion,

•Sharing of information,

•Monitoring GA activities (in collaboration with NAA).

GASP Objectives

•a common frame of reference for general aviation activities,

•an action plan that should take place in order to improve safety,

• safety policies and initiatives to reduce the accidents risk,

• a forum to share and exchange good practices,

•a safety program focused on: JUST CULTURE.

GASP Main activities

• Training• A recognized framework concerning the development of the GA activities, the training and the licensing of the

civil aeronautical personnel,• Specialized courses to improve the activities of instructors and examiners.

• Safety analysis and data sharing• Centralization and dissemination of information related to the flight safety,• A common data base with incidents, accidents and their causes.

• Risk awareness and safety promotion • Improve risk awareness by sharing of good practices and safety promotion,

A periodically newsletter.

• Sharing of information regarding general aviation legislation and procedures• The centralization, in the shape of a common library, of the legislative framework and procedures of each country

specific to the general aviation actvities and the border cross procedures.

GASP Main activities

• Monitoring GA activities (in collaboration with National Authorities):

• Specialized commissions in order to ensure the optimal organizatorical climate for the development and evolution of the GA activities according to the common safety standards agreed at the level of participating countries by: The Comission of Ethics, The Commission of Education, etc.,

• Supervising the general aviation activities to be exercised only by individuals or legal entities which own a license issued by the statutory organs and according to the agreed safety standards,

• Notifying the organisms and commissions of the profile authorities in case of disrespecting the agreed safety standards,

• Verifying the compliance to the regulations and the common safety standards by the training organizations and by the aeronautical personnel.

BY PERSONS WITH EXPERIENCE IN GENERAL AVIATION ACTIVITIES!

Other issues

• Integration of Civil UAS/UAV in General Aviation Activities:

• A common approach of the legal frame regarding the EU RPAS integration but it is important to find the balance between the necessary regulatory support and not stalling that nascent development by regulating too far, too soon,

• A safe integration of UAS requires coordination between international actors regarding: airworthiness, licensing, type certification and general procedures,

How GASP works

• A program developed by General Aviation Community in cooperation with National Authorities,

• The legal entities or individuals which develop general aviation activities (pilots, instructortors, flight schools, sport clubs, etc.) could sign up for the GASP on a voluntary basis,

• Together with the membership of the GASP, the members have immediate access to the advantages of being part of a community experiencing continuous expansion.

GASP Advatages

• The GASP brand is the waranty of safety and quality in the general aviation activities:

• Part of a community recognized at an international level (by GA community and Authorities) which endorses the quality of the offered services,

• the prestige of the members of the GASP is maintained through the internal filtration/ recommandation system of the individuals and legal entities which become members of the program,

• Professional development and skills improvement through courses organized in the GASP through the involvement of trainers with international recognition,

• Access to a common library with international data regarding general aviation activities, standards and specific legislation.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!