STANAG 4703 Light Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airworthiness Requirements

STANAG standards, which are NATO standardization agreements, determine the military standards of NATO member countries. One of the standards published in this framework is the STANAG 4703 standard. This standard contains minimum technical airworthiness requirements intended for airworthiness certification of fixed-wing light unmanned aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of not more than 150 kg and an impact energy of more than 66 J, and which are intended for airworthiness certification in regularly unallocated airspace.

The lower limit is determined by studies showing that below this level, it is reasonably expected that a fatal injury would not occur if the drone hits an unprotected person. The value of 66 J is considered to be a value based on current research. For unmanned aerial vehicles below this value, it seems possible to relax some of the requirements. Specific airworthiness requirements should be agreed with the approval authority on a case-by-case basis. Attached to this document are guidelines that are not limited to fixed blade directions (Appendix J).

Because of the wide variety of possible configurations and technology in this category, and most of these systems are architecturally simple, this standard was developed to:

• Require no more than the minimum amount of certification evidence required to demonstrate an acceptable level of airworthiness
• Address any design features that could compromise security
• Being flexible, not prescriptive, so as not to limit design solutions

It is acknowledged that a purely traditional set of prescriptive airworthiness codes cannot fulfill this purpose and cannot be derived from existing civil or military regulations applicable to manned aircraft. In this respect, an approach is adopted that combines a series of traditional airworthiness code requirements with criteria aimed at achieving a high level of confidence that the design is airworthy. This approach stems from the basic military requirements for airworthiness.

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides test services for light unmanned aircraft systems flight suitability conditions within the scope of STANAG 4703 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.