Detect and Avoid: an industrial perspective Technical and Certification considerations for automatisms and safety functions associated with unmanned aircraft systems

It is the responsibility of the pilot of any aircraft to operate the aircraft so as not to pose a hazard and to remain well clear of any other airspace user, as per ICAO Annex 2. Regardless of any other system on board, the pilot has historically to be able to see and avoid those hazards and determine what constitutes a state of well clear. By removing the pilot from the cockpit in order to operate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the pilot is no longer able to see and avoid other traffic, but is still responsible for the rules of the air. This paper will cover current industrial perspectives of the technical mainstreams of this technology, and offer a brief overview on the certification aspects for this functionality.