Glossary of Terms

The terminology relating to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones) operations, continues to evolve and therefore the Abbreviations and Glossary of Terms sections are not exhaustive. The terms listed below are a combination of the emerging ICAO definitions and other ‘common use’ terms which are considered to be acceptable alternatives.

The complete list of the CAA’s Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations can be found here: CAP 1134

A

Aircraft – Any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the Earth’s surface.
Air Navigation Order – CAP 393 Air Navigation: The Order and the Regulations include the ANO and the Rules of the Air Regulations.
Autonomous Aircraft – An unmanned aircraft that does not allow pilot intervention in the management of the flight.
Autonomous Operation – An operation during which an unmanned aircraft is operating without pilot intervention in the management of flight.

C

Continued Airworthiness – The monitoring, reporting and corrective action processes used for in-service aircraft to assure they maintain the appropriate safety standard defined during the initial airworthiness processes throughout their operational life.
Continuing Airworthiness – The system of management of the aircraft and the scheduling and actioning of ongoing preventative and corrective maintenance to confirm correct functioning and to achieve safe, reliable and cost effective operation.
Command and Control Link (C2) – The data link between the remotely-piloted aircraft and the remote pilot station for the purposes of managing the flight.
Concept of Operations – describes the characteristics of the organisation, system, operations and the objectives of the user.

D

Detect and Avoid – The capability to see, sense or detect conflicting traffic or other hazards and take the appropriate action.

G

Ground Control Station (GCS) – See ‘Remote Pilot Station’.
Note: RPS is the preferred term as it enables the consistent use of one term with the same meaning irrespective of its location (e.g. on a ship or in another aircraft).

H

Handover – The act of passing piloting control from one remote pilot station to another.
High Authority – those systems that can evaluate data, select a course of action and implement that action without the need for human input.
Highly Automated – those systems that still require inputs from a human operator (e.g. confirmation of a proposed action) but which can implement the action without further human interaction once the initial input has been provided.

I

Initial Airworthiness – The system used to determine the applicable requirements and establish that an aircraft design is demonstrated to be able to meet these requirements.

L

Lost Link – The loss of command and control link contact with the remotely-piloted aircraft such that the remote pilot can no longer manage the aircraft’s flight.

O

Operator – A person, organisation or enterprise engaged in or offering to engage in an aircraft operation.
Note: In the context of remotely-piloted aircraft, an aircraft operation includes the remotely-piloted aircraft system.

P

Pilot – The person in direct control of the UA – See also ‘Remote Pilot’.

R

Radio Line-Of-Sight (RLOS) – A direct radio link point-to-point contact between a transmitter and a receiver.
Remote Pilot – A person charged by the operator with duties essential to the operation of a remotely-piloted aircraft and who manipulates the flight controls, as appropriate, during flight time.
Remotely Piloted Air System – A remotely piloted aircraft, its associated remote pilot station(s), the required command and control links and any other material relevant to the operation of the remotely piloted aircraft system.
Remote Pilot Station (RPS) – The component of the remotely-piloted aircraft system containing the equipment used to pilot the remotely-piloted aircraft.
Remotely-Piloted Aircraft (RPA) – An unmanned aircraft which is piloted from a remote pilot station.
Remote Pilot Authorisation (RPA)– The 3iC training course leading to a PfAW
Remotely-Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) – A remotely piloted aircraft, its associated remote pilot station(s), the required command and control links and any other components as specified in the type design.
RPA Observer – A trained and competent person designated by the operator who, by visual observation of the remotely-piloted aircraft, assists the remote pilot in the safe conduct of the flight.
RPAS Commander – A trained and competent person who is responsible for the conduct and safety of a specific flight and for supervising the person in direct control of the RPAS. His duties are equivalent to those of an Aircraft Commander.

S

Safety – The state in which risks associated with aviation activities, related to, or in direct support of the operation of aircraft, are reduced and controlled to an acceptable level.
Safety Management System (SMS) – A systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures.
Sense and Avoid – See ‘Detect and Avoid’.
Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) – Any unmanned aircraft, other than a balloon or a kite, having a mass of not more than 20 kg without its fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or attached to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight.
Small Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft (SUSA) – A small unmanned aircraft which is equipped to undertake any form of surveillance or data acquisition.

U

Unmanned Aircraft (UA) – An aircraft which is intended to operate with no human pilot on board, as part of an Unmanned Aircraft System.
UAS – Unmanned Aircraft System(s)
UAS OSC – Unmanned Aircraft System(s) Operating Safety Case
UIR – Upper Flight Information Region

V

VFR – Visual Flight Rules
Visual Line-Of-Sight (VLOS) Operation – An operation in which the remote pilot or RPA observer maintains direct unaided visual contact with the remotely-piloted aircraft.