UK MAA Publishes New Regulations for Remotely Piloted Air Systems

The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) has published a number of new regulations under a notice of authorised amendment (NAA) for Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS). The publication of the regulations marks the end of a 15 month review by an MAA Multi-Disciplinary Team formed from staff across all areas of the MAA as well as members from the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Airworthiness and Unmanned Air Systems Teams.

The new RPAS regulations introduce a classification system where RPAS are categorized according to criteria which includes their size, how they are operated and what risk to life they potentially pose to people on the ground. The category an RPAS receives will determine the level of regulation it will have to meet, ranging from full compliance for the largest RPAS presenting the greatest risk to life down to no regulation for the smallest.

The classification system, along with more specific regulations for RPAS , has created a much improved regulatory regime which is proportional and effective because it recognises the broad range of RPAS types and the appropriate level of regulation for each of them.