The European Commission published a communication to establish a legal framework for integrating remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) into common airspace by 2018. Key challenges include a lack of harmonized regulations across Europe and incomplete technologies. The communication sets out a roadmap to facilitate all types of RPAS by 2018 with initial results in 2016, and further integration by 2023 by potentially lifting remaining restrictions. It aims to develop a clear legal and technical framework, meet timeline goals, support European aviation industry, and coordinate internationally. Further research is needed to validate technologies like command and control, detect and avoid, security, and contingency procedures.

2. LIABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY AND
INSURANCE IN AUTOMATED SOCIO-TECHNICAL
SYSTEMS: THE INTEGRATION OF
RPAS IN COMMERCIAL AIR SPACE
Anna Masutti

3. EU Communication April 8th, 2014
On April 8th, 2014 the European Commission published its
Communication, whose objective is to include RPAS into common air
space and allow for their development in the European market.
Objectives: The growth potential can only be realised if an enabling legal
framework is established at the European level.

4. The EU Commission observes:
The lack of harmonized regulations across Europe and of validated
technologies forms the main obstacle to opening the RPAS market and to
integrating RPAS in European non-segregated airspace.
Industry is urging rapid steps towards the establishment of an enabling
RPAS regulatory framework.
The schedule proposes a plan to facilitate all types of RPAS in air space for
all uses by 2018, with initial results by 2016. Operations will continue
to be subject to limitations in densely-populated areas - in particular
around airports.
Further integration by 2023 is recommended with the lifting of potential
restrictions which may still exist.

5. The contents of the Communication
European objectives are:
 To devise a clear and complete legal and technical framework;
 Ensure timeframes set out by the communication’s roadmap
are achieved;
 Develop programmes aimed at sustaining the European aviation
industry;
 Coordinate with the main international partners.

6. Important considerations
• Some of the key technologies are not yet available to allow for the safe
integration of RPAS.
• Research and development (R&D) efforts should focus on the
validation of these technologies.
The technologies which need further development and validation
are:
• Command and control, including spectrum allocation and management;
• Detect and avoid technologies;
• Security protection against physical, electronic or cyber-attacks;
• Transparent and harmonized contingency procedures;
• Decision capabilities to ensure standardized and predictable behaviour
in all phases of flight; and
• Human factor issues such as piloting.

7. Questions to be considered
• What elements should the regulatory framework contain? Should we
have wide variety of aircraft and operations? Should we keep rules
proportionate to the potential risk? Should it contain the administrative
burden for industry and for the supervisory authorities?
• How can we keep the rules proportionate to risk taking into account
weight, speed, complexity, airspace class and place or operation specifics ,
etc. ?
• Does the traditional approach of airworthiness certification, pilot
licensing and operator licensing need to be complemented by forms of light
touch regulation?
• How should we allocate liability for automated RPAS (designers,
manufacturers, pilots, operator)?