5.0 Guidance Material – UAV System
5.1 Airworthiness / Continued Airworthiness / Maintenance
1. Evaluation planning refers to the development and annual maintenance of a multi year plan that identifies the Standards Branch programs that have been prioritized for evaluation. The Program Evaluation section of TPEC is responsible for the management and execution of the plan. The planning process is located in Appendix 'E'.
2. All UAV systems must be designed to perform their intended function and all equipment must be installed and functional in accordance with the limitations specified for the particular equipment.
3. The UAV operator is responsible for ensuring that the UAV system is in an airworthy condition prior to conducting flight operations. An airworthy condition includes, at a minimum; 1. The UAV system has been maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's specified maintenance program and schedule;
2. The requirements of any airworthiness directives (or equivalent) issued by the manufacturer of the aircraft, control station or other ancillary component have been completed;
3. All modifications and repairs to the UAV system are carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and that no unapproved modifications have been carried out; and
4. All UAV system equipment required for safe flight operations is serviceable.
5.2 Aircraft Marking and Registration
1. At this time, UAVs are not required to be marked and registered
2. Pending aircraft marking and registration, the UAV operator will need to establish, in coordination with the each applicable air traffic service provider, a call sign to be used during the particular operation in order to facilitate communication and avoid duplication of call signs.
5.3 Portable Electronic Devices
1. Portable electronic devices (PED) are items such as two-way radios, cellular phones, tablets, laptop computers, audio/visual recorders and hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) / Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), that are not part of the UAV system inventory.
2. The use of PEDs in manned aircraft is governed by section 602.08 of the CARs. 1. In the absence of engineering evaluations on individual UAV systems, by the original equipment manufacturer or operator, TC will apply section 602.08 of the CARs to the use of PEDs in the UAV, the control station and around command and control segment equipment.
2. PEDs such as hearing aids, heart pacemakers, electronic watches and UAV operator-installed PEDs that have been properly tested so as not to impair the functioning of the UAV's systems or equipment are permitted without restrictions.
5.4 Transportation of Dangerous Goods
1. In accordance with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, transporting a UAV system with lithium batteries, in a vehicle or another aircraft requires mandatory special handling protocols. For more information, refer to TC Transportation of Dangerous Goods Bulletin RDIMS-#8508799 or at http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/lithium-batteries-are-dangerous-goods-1162.html