Improving Cockpit Awareness of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Near Airports

There is an emerging aviation safety concern regarding risks to manned flight from the increasing population of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). This paper describes a method to support pilots in manned aircraft by providing them with essential safety information: the potential location of nearby sUAS within certain active Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM)-enabled airspace. Such airspace is designated within UAS Facility Map (UASFM) segments reflecting Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) - enabled airspace. UASFM segments specify maximum altitudes authorized for certain sUAS operations without further coordination with the controlling facility. Enhanced awareness of nearby UAS could be crucial to flight safety as manned aircraft pilots are required by regulation to be familiar with all available information to avoid operating an aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard, and to see and avoid other aircraft. The proposed method would serve as a non-exclusive, interim safety mitigation until the widespread deployment of effective sUAS traffic detection and avoidance technologies. The method may also have future applicability to other airspace proximate to airports.

The intended audience for this proposal includes:

• Experts in civil aviation operations, policy, safety, and technology
• Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and ANSP policy-making organizations
• Companies specializing in aeronautical information products and services that mitigate loss of separation, and advance aviation safety
• Pilots, flight departments, and aviation associations committed to promoting aviation safety