Command, Control, and Communication (C3) of Unmanned Aerospace Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS)

Command, Control, and Communication (C3) of Unmanned Aerospace Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS)

 by

Daniel J. Hall, Jr.

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

ASCI 530

 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

November 15, 2013

Command, Control, and Communication (C3) of Unmanned Aerospace Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS)

Integration of unmanned aerospace systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS) is a necessary step in realizing the commercial benefits of these systems.  However, methods of command, control, and communication (C3) need to be addressed in order to safely operate UAS in an already congested airspace.  “UAS operations are currently not authorized in Class B airspace, which exists over major urban areas and contains the highest density of manned aircraft in the National Airspace System” (Federal Aviation Administration, 2013a, para. 5).  Fortunately, the benefits of switching from a ground based surveillance system to a satellite based surveillance system as promised by NextGen significantly enhances UAS C3.  For example, “Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is FAA's satellite-based successor to [ground based] radar.  ADS-B makes use of GPS technology to determine and share precise aircraft location information, and streams additional flight information to the cockpits of properly equipped aircraft” (Federal Aviation Administration, 2011, para. 1).

Until the functionality of NextGen is fully implemented, current UAS C3 systems such as Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation and Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) could be combined with routing methodologies to ensure separation of manned and unmanned aircraft.  For example, in addressing this issue, the Department of Defense (2011) detailed the following six routing methods to be employed by the suggested UAS groups:

Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS) – UAS Groups 1, 2, and some 3 - The observer can be located on the ground, in a moving vehicle/boat, or in a chase plane. (p. 10)

Terminal Area Operations - All UAS Groups - The observers or sensors alert the UAS pilot/operator of approaching traffic so actions may be taken to avoid potential collisions with other traffic. (p. 11)

Restricted Operating Areas – All UAS Groups – Nearly 500 existing [Military Operating Areas] MOAs can provide DOD UAS the ability to span 43 states and over a half million square miles of operating space. (p. 13)

Lateral Transit (Corridor) Operations – UAS Groups 3, 4, and 5 – consist of flying from one controlled airspace to another through a pre-defined corridor.  The corridors can potentially be implemented at any altitude, but typically reside in Class E airspace (above 1200 ft. AGL, but below 18,000 ft. MSL). (p. 14)

Vertical Transit (Cylinder) Operations – UAS Groups 4 and 5 – consist of a spiral climb or descent to within controlled airspace to/from Class A controlled airspace (18K – 60K feet) or a designated corridor altitude. (p. 15)

Dynamic Operations – UAS Groups 3, 4, and 5 – envisions that the UAS will possess the ability to integrate routinely into the NAS comparable to today’s manned aircraft.  This concept enables the proponent of an appropriately equipped UAS to file a flight plan and then perform the activities listed in that flight plan with unfettered accesses to the airspace. (P.16)

The Federal Aviation Administration (2013b) stated:

Ultimately, UAS must be integrated into the NAS without reducing existing capacity, decreasing safety, negatively impacting current operators, or increasing the risk to airspace users or persons and property on the ground any more than the integration of comparable new and novel technologies. (p. 4)

The author suggests that commercial integration of UAS into the NAS is possible with current C3 technology and capabilities when combined with variants of the routing methods describe above.

References

Department of Defense. (2011, March). Unmanned aircraft system airspace integration plan (Version 2.0). Retrieved from http://www.mtsi-va.com/docs/Airspace_Integration_Plan_2011.pdf

Federal Aviation Administration. (2011, November 2). NextGen: A strong nucleus. Retrieved from http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/slides/?slide=4

Federal Aviation Administration. (2013a, February 19). Fact sheet – Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Retrieved from http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=14153

Federal Aviation Administration. (2013b, November 7). Integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) roadmap (1st ed.). Retrieved from http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/media/UAS_Roadmap_2013.pdf