Unmanned aircraft systems: A pathway to obtain a design verification report

Abstract

Purpose: Nowadays, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles continues to expand in our daily lives, due to their versatility and practicality across various domains. However, there is a growing concern regarding the responsible use of these vehicles. Issues related to privacy, safety, job displacement, and environmental and social impacts must be carefully considered when adopting this technology. To address these concerns and mitigate associated risks, regulatory entities, stakeholders, operators, and European Union Member States must collaborate in developing regulations that unify and clarify the use of these vehicles. This article aims to contribute to the evolution of legislation for unmanned aerial vehicles, addressing topics that still raise many questions, such as design verification. The purpose is to systematically outline the steps to obtain a Design Verification Report (DVR), considering a wide array of potential scenarios, giving rise to a framework. Design/methodology/approach: The research begins with a literature review of the legislation for UAS, with a particular focus on Regulation (EU) 2019/947 issued by EASA. After that, attention is directed towards documentation helpful to formulate the framework, such as the Guidelines on Design Verification for UAS operated in the Specific Category, issued in 2023. Findings: Findings suggest that the framework represents a roadmap, offering guidance through the intricate process of compliance verification and ensuring the safety and reliability of UAS operations. The design verification process can be divided into eight steps, ending in a DVR issuance by the competent authority. The primary objective of this document is to guide applicants seeking design approval from EASA. Originality/value: The value of this research lies in illustrating the Design Verification Process, which represents a noteworthy advancement for European UAS legislation. The framework intends to facilitate a deeper understanding of the design verification process.

Keywords

• unmanned aircraft systems, design verification, specific category, specific assurance and integrity level, specific operations risk assessment