Paving the way for the safe integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) into the European airspace starting in 2016

The European RPAS Steering Group (ERSG) handed over the Roadmap for the Integration of civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems into the European Aviation system to the European Commission on the occasion of the Paris Air Show on 20th June 2013.

The ERSG, a group of stakeholders gathering the main organisations and experts interested in the integration of RPAS into the European aviation system, received the mandate to establish a roadmap for the safe integration of civil RPAS into the European aviation systems, aiming for the initial integration of RPAS to take place by 2016.

Peter van Blyenburg (president of UVS International) and Banhard Gerwertt (CEO of EADS Cassidian), on behalf of the ERSG, handed over the document to the representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry and Directorate General for Mobility and Transport.

The complete version of this roadmap with its three annexes is expected to facilitate decision-making processes within the different organisations working in this area, provide transparency and efficiency in the planning of different initiatives and support the coordination of related activities in Europe.

European RPAS Steering Group

The European RPAS Steering Group is co-chaired by DG Enterprise and DG Mobility & Transport, and also involves the participation of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), EUROCONTROL, SESAR Joint Undertaking, European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS), the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Defence Agency (EDA), EUROCAE, the Association of European Research Establishments for Aeronautics (EREA), the European Cockpit Association (ECA), the Association of European Aerospace & Defence Manufacturers (ASD) and UVS International. Representatives from most of these organisations attended the event.

The ERSG has the objective of fostering the development of civil RPAS by planning and coordinating all the activities necessary to achieve the safe and incremental integration of RPAS into European air traffic by 2016.

Roadmap:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/aerospace/files/rpas-roadmap_en.pdf

Source: 

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/aerospace/uas/

Credits (picture): ESA