RTCA seeks additional contributors to help develop C-UAS standards

RTCA has issued a call for participation to assist its efforts in developing standards for counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).

RTCA works with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop comprehensive, industry-vetted and endorsed standards that can be used as means of compliance with FAA regulations.

In 2020, the RTCA Special Committee 238 was established by the Program Management Committee and works jointly with EUROCAE Working Group 115 to develop standards for C-UAS systems. To date, the Special Committee and Working Group have published two Counter UAS documents: DO-389 / ED-286: Operational Services and Environment Definition (OSED) for Counter-UAS In Controlled Airspace. And DO-403 / ED-322: System Performance and Interoperability Requirements for Non-Cooperative UAS Detection Systems. 

RTCA notes that the active contribution to the Special Committee and Working Group has for some time been limited to a small ‘core group’ of dedicated experts. Consequently, RTCA and EUROCAE are now seeking to expand the group of active contributors to include members from all aspects of C-UAS, particularly in the context of ANSPs, airports, U-space service providers, C-UAS systems manufacturers, law enforcement agencies, etc. due to the demand for these systems.

The next task for the group is to update the DO-389 / ED-286 OSED to include advances in C-UAS technology and changes to operating contexts in the three years since that document was published.  

Interested parties are invited to email committees@rtca.org. The call for participation will close on March 22. The next meeting is scheduled for April 2-4, 2024 to be held at RTCA in Washington DC, and via Webex.