Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Preliminary Standards Released for Large Unmanned Aircraft
Standards organization RTCA publishes 'interim' standards for unmanned aircraft detect-and-avoid and command and control functions.
NASA's Ikhana, foreground, is shown with a Honeywell-operated King Air intruder aircraft. (Photo: NASA/Ken Ulbrich)
NASA's Ikhana, foreground, is shown with a Honeywell-operated King Air intruder aircraft. (Photo: NASA/Ken Ulbrich)

The aviation standards organization supporting the FAA in developing the technical criteria for allowing large unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to fly in civilian airspace has achieved a “significant milestone” in that effort. Preliminary requirements for airborne collision avoidance and communications with the ground have been completed, RTCA announced on October 2.