Safety Risk Management of Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Abstract

The safety risk management process describes the systematic application of management policies, procedures, and practices to the activities of communicating, consulting, establishing the context, and assessing, evaluating, treating, monitoring and reviewing risk. This process is undertaken to provide assurances that the risks associated with the operation of unmanned aircraft systems have been managed to acceptable levels. The safety risk management process and its outcomes form part of the documented safety case necessary to obtain approvals for unmanned aircraft system operations. It also guides the development of an organization’s operations manual and is a key component of an organization’s safety management system. The aim of this chapter is to provide existing risk practitioners with a high level introduction to some of the unique issues and challenges in the application of the safety risk management process to unmanned aircraft systems. The scope is limited to safety risks associated with the operation of unmanned aircraft in the civil airspace system and over inhabited areas. This chapter notes the unique aspects associated with the application of the safety risk management process to UAS compared to that of conventionally piloted aircraft. Key challenges discussed include the specification of high-level safety criteria; the identification, analysis and evaluation of the risks; and the effectiveness of available technical and operational mitigation strategies. This chapter also examines some solutions to these challenges, including those currently in practice and those still under research and development.