rpas symposium
TRANSCRIPT
RPAS Symposium NAV CANADA Perspective
March 2015
Outline NAV CANADA Backgrounder
Canadian RPAS Regulations & Current Operations
ANSP Issues/Concerns
NAV CANADA RPAS Activities & Initiatives
Private, non-share capital company
2nd largest ANSP in the world
12 million aircraft movements annually
Airspace over an area of 18 million km2
Regulated by Federal Government on safety performance
Who We Are
About NAV CANADA
Our People 4,650 employees across the country Air Traffic Controllers
Flight Service Specialists
Electronics Technologists
Engineering and IM Corporate Functions
Our Services Air Traffic Control
Flight Information
Weather Briefings
Aeronautical Information
Airport Advisory Services
Electronic Navigation Aids
Canadian RPAS Regulations & Current Operations RPAS operations are regulated by Transport Canada:
– Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) – Non-recreational Operations (unless under exemption)
– Coordination with ANSP (if operating in controlled airspace)
– Canadian Aviation Regulation (CAR) Exemptions introduced 26 November 2014
– 2kg or less, and 2-25kg categories
– Limited to VLOS in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace, <300ft, >5nm from airports, etc…
– Best practices-driven process pending regulatory development
Canadian RPAS Regulations & Current Operations Majority of ops focused on small RPAS in VLOS, however…
Canadian RPAS Regulations & Current Operations BVLOS Operations
– Segregated airspace being developed for two Centres of Excellence – Alma, Quebec (approx. 5,000 km2, up to FL290)
– Foremost, Alberta (approx. 2,400 km2, up to FL180)
BVLOS Operations
– Global Hawks (under MND authority) regularly use Canadian airspace (FL550B600) on great circle routes for international deployment
– Some Homeland Security Predators controlled in U.S. airspace delegated to NAV CANADA
ANSP Issues & Concerns Operator lack of aviation/airspace knowledge, RT
procedures… – Difficulty in distinguishing piloting capabilities without some form of
recognized training standard/national licensing requirement, etc.
– Radio communication discipline – clear, concise, familiarity with lexicon, situational awareness
– Critical need to establish common baseline – it will come, but needs to be taken on by the entire RPAS community
ANSP Issues & Concerns Lost Link Procedures
– Need for common awareness, predictability
– Need to address: – varying contexts of local environment
– airspace structure (terminal vs enroute, aerodrome, etc)
– varying performance characteristics
– Integration with conventional traffic and other RPAS (and their lost link procedures…)
– universal standardization
ANSP Issues & Concerns Communications
– Cell phone may be convenient…for operators…but not necessarily for ATS
– VHF radio monitoring is ideal for maintaining traffic awareness – Control zone (Control Tower, FSS Tower), uncontrolled airport
(MF/ATF)
– Cell phones may work in some, but not all situations
– Long-term solution is required
ANSP Issues & Concerns NOTAMs
– Used to point out hazards to aviation operations – Are RPAS operations a hazard?
– Where do we draw the line?
– Consultation requirements – ANSP/Regulator
– NOTAM Manual dictates terminology/abbreviations to be used
RPAS Development Activities & Initiatives ICAO
– ICAO RPAS Panel (CANSO observer)
– Doc 4444 PANS ATM gap analysis
CANSO RPAS WG – Controller/specialist training development
– Areas requiring ATS input: Discrete RPAS Lost Comm SSR code, Lost Command & Control Procedures, etc.
Transport Canada Regulatory Development – Amendments to Canadian Aviation Regulations
– Collaborative effort with Regulator, ANSP and RPAS industry
RPAS Development Activities & Initiatives Information Campaign
– NAV CANADA RPAS Web Site Development – One-stop shopping site for all UAV reference material
– SFOC Tracking Database
– RPAS Flight Safety Incident Tracking Database
– Support RPAS awareness/outreach programs – RPAS Ground Schools, Conference Briefings, etc.
– Investigating interactive, external web site (e.g. controlled airspace map, coordination procedures, points of contact, etc.)
– Monitor TC public awareness initiatives (Internet/social media)
– Develop RPAS procedures training for ATS units