Having the necessary documentation to maintain and repair any sort of aircraft is of the utmost importance. With this in mind, ASTM International Committee F38 on Unmanned Aircraft Systems has developed a new standard, F 2584, Practice for Maintenance and Development of Maintenance Manuals for Light Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The new practice, which is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee F38.01 on Airworthiness, is an important standard for anyone working on the maintenance, repairs and alterations of light unmanned aircraft systems. In addition, manufacturers of UAS intended for the commercial market will be able to use F 2584 to provide the format and content of maintenance manuals and instructions for their product.
According to Stephen Schmidt, UAS Test Director, Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., the subcommittee used standards developed by Committee F37 on Light Sport Aircraft as a model while developing F 2584. The F37 standards, which include F 2295, Practice for Continued Operational Safety Monitoring of a Light Sport Airplane, had to be approved before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would certify the first light sport aircraft as airworthy. Practice F 2584 and other F38 standards will be part of a similar process when the FAA works toward certifying the first light unmanned aircraft system.
Andrew Hill, F38.01 subcommittee chair, says that the mission of Committee F38 is to produce cost-effective consensus standards that will enhance the safe design, manufacture, maintenance and operation of UAS. Subcommittee F38.01 is playing a key role in this work.
“Subcommittee F38.01 is engaged in a broad spectrum of work items covering airworthiness standards,” says Hill. “Our focus is on safe design, construction, test, modification and inspection of the individual component, aircraft or system. This subcommittee is hardware-oriented and we are always seeking members from the commercial, government, user and academic sectors with an interest in airworthiness to lead or author new or revised standards.”
ASTM International standards are available for purchase from Customer Service (phone: 610/832-9585; service@astm.org) or at www.astm.org. For further technical information, contact Stephen Schmidt, Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Ft. Worth, Texas (phone: 817/280-4553; sschmidt@bellhelicopter.textron.com). Committee F38 meets Nov. 13-14, during the November Committee Week in Atlanta, Ga. For membership or meeting information, contact Daniel Schultz, manager, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9716; dschultz@astm.org).
Release #7474
