The European UAS Standards
Coordination Group (EUSCG)

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is the most rapidly emerging and developing aviation sector which includes very large aircraft which resemble in size and complexity manned aircraft, but also very small consumer electronics products. All of these categories could be used in the same air space as Commercial Air Transportation, General Aviation and Aerial Work. Therefore, it is very important to ensure a harmonised approach to seek integration of UAS both at regulatory and operational levels in the existing aviation framework.

Standardisation is one of the processes that allows this harmonised approach to be implemented. Currently there are multiple organisations active in developing such standards at different levels. This increases the risk of gaps and overlaps in the various standardisation activities. Considering the successful example of the EASCG which coordinates the standardisation activities in the area of ATM, it was decided to put in place a similar arrangement in the area of UAS – the European UAS Standards Coordination Group (EUSCG).

It had its Kick-Off Meeting on the 1st of June 2017 at the EUROCAE offices in Saint Denis, France.

19 experts from the European regulators (European Commission and EASA), Standard Developing Organisations (SDOs) and UAS manufacturer and operation representation met to discuss the Terms of Reference of the Coordination group with the goal to define a way to streamline standards developing activities in Europe.

The EUSCG is a joint coordination and advisory group established to coordinate the UAS-related standardisation activities across Europe, essentially stemming from the EU regulations and EASA rulemaking initiatives. The EUSCG provides a link to bridge the European activities to those at international level.

The EUSCG work ensures a better coordination and monitoring of the relevant activities affecting standardisation:

  • rulemaking activities under EASA responsibility,
  • update to ATM Master Plan by including UAS provisions,
  • standardisation activities executed by the relevant standardisation bodies, including EUROCAE WG-105 work programme.

The main deliverable of the EUSCG is the European UAS Standardisation Rolling Development Plan (RDP) which will be progressively updated to reflect the current situation. It will also provide a method for the identification and discussion of overlaps and gaps, and as a basis for feedback to contributing organisations, to improve overall coordination of standards development.

For more information and to access the latest version of the European Standardisation Rolling Development Plan please go to the EUSCG website.