MODIFICATION
99 -- FAA Safety Management for Unmanned Aircraft System
- Notice Date
- 6/19/2009
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- Contracting Office
- Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), W.J. Hughes Tech Center, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, AJA-473 AJP - Technical Center (Atlantic City, NJ)
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- 8381
- Response Due
- 7/2/2009
- Archive Date
- 7/17/2009
- Point of Contact
- Cynthia Hische, 609-485-6288<br />
- E-Mail Address
-
cynthia.hische@faa.gov
(cynthia.hische@faa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The FAA has a requirement to obtain support to the FAA in conducting safety risk research on safety of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). It is proposed to award a five year contract (one year with four option years) to FJLeonelli Group of Waxhaw, North Carolina. FJLeonelli Group is the only known source who has the expertise and the background to perform this requirement. Purpose of Announcement: In accordance with the FAA Acquisition Management System paragraph 3.2.2.4, the purpose of this announcement is to inform the industry of the basis of the FAA's decision to contract with a selected source via single source procedures. This announcement is for informational purposes only. It is not a Solicitation or Request for Proposal. A competitive solicitation is not available for this procurement. Safe integration of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS) poses greater technical challenges not only to the FAA but also the aviation industry. UAS utilizes the most advaced technologies to achieve certain operational capabilities far exceeding the expectations of current NAS users. These unique capabilities have demonstrated its potential of commercial applications as well as exceeding the expectations of current NAS users. Data from the recently completed UAS technology survey sponsored by the FAA shows that integrating UAS in the NAS will potentially affect the entire NAS due to the various sizes of UAS (less than a foot up to the size of a commercial jet), wide ranges of maximum take-off weight (less than a pound to the weight of a large jet), large performance disparities in reference to the existing certificated aircraft and capabilities of operating in all classes of airspace (even the ones weighing less than 100 pounds are operating in Class A airspace). In 2004, under the FAA request, the RTCA established a special committee 203 (SC203)to develop minimum aviation system perfomance standards for UAS, UAS Sense and Avoid Systems and UAS Command, Control and Communication Systems (C3). Since then, the RTCA SC203 has been leading the effort of developing industry consensus standards for UAS SAA and C3, which are key and probably the most technically challenging issues for UAS to operate in the NAS. These RTCA SC203 efforts, with active industry participation, are supported by the FAA, DOD and other Government agencies. However, although UAS SAA and C3 standards are necessary to meet certain mandatory requirements as defined in the FAA regulations (14 CFR) but other regulatory requirements providing the minimum standards for the NAS safety must be met as well. To consider these NAS safety requirements for UAS demands a thorough understanding of the FAA regulatory framework, its construct, its subchapters and their interrelations/interdependencies as well as their safety implications and demonstrated compliance requirements.Therefore, to meet the FAA goal of safe integration of UAS in the NAS, i.e., "DO NO HARM" and "NO ADVERSE IMPACT TO EXISTING NAS USERS", a systematic approach with basis of the FAA regulatory framework is needed to conduct research in suport of the development of UAS airworthiness standards, devise operational requirements, establish maintenance procedures, and conduct safety oversight activities. Such a systematic approach will also support the FAA efforts in Next Gen implementation by studying safety implications of new aircraft technology to the NAS and supporting the development of new regulatory standards while implementing these new technologies.The Flight Safety Team is responsible for the FAA Unmanned Aircraft System Research program under the FAA Research, Engineering and Development Appropriation. Under the program, UAS safety risk management is a high priority requirement. It applies the principle of Safety Management System (SMS) Doctrine, FAA Order VS8000.1 issued by the FAA Office of Aviation Safety (AVS) to develop regulatory bassed metholologies to assess UAS risks and their mitigations while operating in the NAS and interacting with other users. Although, the SMS is mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) only in three areas: Annex 6 - Operation of Aircraft, Annex 11 - Air Traffic Services and Annex 14 - Aerodrome, the AVSSMS and expanded the SMS principle to its regulations in aircraft and airmen by requiring each of its "services/offices to develop and implement a plan for its funcitons under the AVSSMS, including, where appropriate, the structure of its safety oversight relationship with the segment of industry for which it holds safety oversight responsibility". The regulatory-based SMS research directly supports this AVS mandate.There are many entities conducting UAS safety risk analysis related research. However, they all, including the RTCA SC203 led effort, limit their efforts on UAS operational issues and/or particular operational scenarios with specific UAS. The systemic and regulatory based SMS approach has not been adopted and applied.
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-
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- Record
- SN01850359-W 20090621/090619235304-32e9c6fb984310040e119b4261cd9f91 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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