In many cases, FAA regulations need to be included into the UAS design considerations, here are some examples:
14 CFR § 91.409 Inspections. (b)
According to the Federal Aviation Regulations, a continuous inspection must be carried out for an aircraft with an interval of 100 hours. The maintenance status data of every aircraft is stored in the database of our server. If one aircraft’s flight duration reaches 100 hours, the data will be sent automatically to the ground crew members at the corresponding airport to carry out the inspection of the particular aircraft.
14 CFR § 135.152 – Flight data recorders. (b)
All of our UAS aircrafts are equipped with digital data recorders. The recorder retrieves data from onboard sensors. It starts recording before the take-off process and does not stop until the aircraft lands. During the post-flight analysis process, all data recorded will be sent to our server for long-term storage.
§ 121.119 Weather reporting facilities.
To avoid operation in hazardous weather conditions, we make one-day-in-advance flight plans with weather data obtained from the U.S. National Weather Service.
§ 23.2100 Weight and center of gravity.
We determined the position of the center of gravity experientially on our prototype aircraft. Through our calculations, the positions of the two LD3 load units whose weight is fixed is determined and fixed so as not to let the center of gravity travel in the loading condition.
As the weight of the aircraft and cargo doesn’t change much, the fluctuations of loading conditions should be within an acceptable tolerance.
§ 25.1505 Maximum operating limit speed.
The maximum operating limit speed VMO must not be greater than the design cruising speed VC which is determined as 860km/h. Thus, we make VMO equal to the VC in order to improve safety under emergency scenarios. We use onboard computers to control and detect the flight speed to make sure it’s under the limit.
§ 25.25 Weight limits. (a) (b)
The maximum and minimum weight limits at particular conditions are established. We perform strict pre-flight inspection including the cargo’s weight check according to the manifest. An additional check is performed on weighbridges to compose a dual check.
§ 25.1195 Fire extinguishing systems.
To prevent fatal damage caused by fire, an adequate extinguishing system is designed. Fire sensors are installed covering the whole fuselage. The cargo hold, the most possible fire zone, is covered by extinguishing fluid nozzles. The extinguishing system can provide an immediate response once a fire is detected.
Here is some other compiled information for relatively small aircrafts:
Airspace Authorization:
Drone operators must obtain authorization from the FAA before flying in controlled airspace or near airports.
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs): Drone operators must comply with TFRs issued by the FAA, such as those implemented for special events, disaster response, or security reasons.
Anti-Collision Lighting: Drones operated during civil twilight must be equipped with anti-collision lights visible for at least three statute miles.
Restricted Areas: Drone operations are prohibited in certain restricted areas, such as military installations, national parks, and other sensitive locations.
Drone Weight Restrictions: Drones weighing more than 55 pounds (25 kilograms) require a special exemption from the FAA.
Drone Speed Limit: Drones are not allowed to exceed a maximum groundspeed of 100 miles per hour (87 knots).
Maintenance and Inspections: Drone operators are responsible for ensuring their drones are in proper working condition and regularly inspecting them for damage or malfunctions.
No Hazardous Materials: Drones must not carry hazardous materials or any items that could cause harm if released during flight.
Privacy and Data Collection: Drone operators must respect the privacy of others and comply with applicable laws regarding the collection, use, and dissemination of data or imagery obtained during flights.
Drone operators must also comply with state, local, and tribal laws and regulations related to drone operation. Flyaway Prevention: drone operators should take measures to prevent flyaways, such as having backup systems and maintaining controls over their drones at all times.
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