ICAO ANNEX 6 PART IV PDF

FOREWORD

Overview

An aircraft is defined as “any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the earth’s surface”. An aircraft which is intended to be operated with no pilot on board is classified as unmanned. An unmanned aircraft which is piloted from a remote pilot station is a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)¹.

Therefore, RPA are one type of unmanned aircraft. All unmanned aircraft, whether remotely piloted, fully automated or combinations thereof, are subject to the provisions of Article 8 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention, Doc 7300), signed at Chicago on 7 December 1944 and amended by the ICAO Assembly.

Introduction

Standards and Recommended Practices for the Operation of Aircraft – International Commercial Air Transport were first adopted by the Council on 10 December 1948 pursuant to the provisions of Article 37 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944) and designated as Annex 6 to the Convention. They became effective on 15 July 1949. On 2 December 1968, Standards and Recommended Practices for the Operation of Aircraft – International General Aviation – Aeroplanes was added and, on 14 March 1986, Standards and Recommended Practices for the Operation of Aircraft, International Operations – Helicopters was also added. The documents containing these Standards and Recommenced Practices are now designated as Annex 6, Parts I, II and III respectively, to the Convention. All three parts, however, are specifically applicable to aircraft operations where the flight crew and, in most cases passengers, are on board the aircraft. The operation of aircraft which are remotely piloted is not addressed.

Annex 6, Part IV was created as a means of providing Standards and Recommended Practices for the operation of a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS). This first edition introduces provisions required for international RPAS operations and details the information that is required for a State to issue an RPAS operator certificate (ROC). These requirements were developed by the RPAS Panel on behalf of the Air Navigation Commission and adopted by the Council on 18 March 2024. They became effective on 22 July 2024 and applicable on 26 November 2026. Additional Standards and Recommended Practices covering other aspects of RPAS operations will be developed as topics mature. In the interim, for those aspects that are not yet addressed in Part IV, but for which Standards and Recommended Practices already exist in Parts I, II or III, it is intended that RPAS be operated in a manner that is consistent with those provisions, as appropriate.

In developing this material, the RPASP was guided by the following principles:

Presentation and conformity with Annex 6, Parts I, II and III. Part IV is equivalent in scope and it conforms, as closely as possible, to the other Parts of Annex 6.

Level of safety, the provisions provide the basis to ensure that RPAS will be operated in such a manner as to minimize hazards to persons, property and other aircraft.

Categories of operation

The operation of unmanned aircraft (UA) should be regulated in a manner that is proportionate to the risk of the particular operation. Considering the broad range of operations and types of UA, it is appropriate that categories for operations and an associated regulatory regime covering the whole range of possible operations be established by States. Such a categorization scheme is outlined below:

a) Open (low risk). For this category, provided that operations are conducted within defined limitations (e.g. visual line-of-sight (VLOS) only, specified distances from aerodromes and persons, maximum height above ground level (AGL)), flights can take place without the need for an authorization from the appropriate authority.

b) Specific (medium risk/regulated lower risk). This category of operation would require an operational authorization from an appropriate authority prior to the flight(s) taking place; appropriate limitations/restrictions would be applied based on the type of operation, complexity of the UAS and the specific qualifications and experience of operating personnel. Approval for the operation would be based on analysis of a safety risk assessment and any mitigations employed to reduce any risks to an acceptable level. This category encompasses operations where the risk to persons being overflown is greater than what would be permitted in category a), or involves sharing the airspace with other manned or unmanned aircraft, but is at a level below that where the full application of manned aviation principles would be warranted.

c) Certified (certified airworthiness approach). This category utilizes the same method used for regulating manned aviation, because the aviation risks, and hence the aviation safety requirements, associated with the operation have increased to an equivalent level. Operator certification, remote flight crew licensing and RPA certification will be required due to the higher associated risk. Operations in this category are primarily considered to be flown beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS), however portions of the flight (i.e., launch and recovery) may operate within VLOS.

The SARPs within Part IV to Annex 6 contain the requirements to regulate international operations in the Certified category.

Table A shows the origin of subsequent amendments together with a list of the principal subjects involved and the dates on which the Annex and the amendments were adopted by the Council, when they became effective and when they became applicable.

Applicability

The Standards and Recommended Practices in Annex 6, Part IV, are applicable to the operation of RPAS certificated in accordance with Annex 8 by operators authorized to conduct international RPAS operations.

In accordance with Article 31 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, every aircraft engaged in international navigation shall be provided with a certificate of airworthiness issued, or rendered valid, by the State in which it is registered. Furthermore, for the conduct of international operations, Annex 2, Appendix 4 requires that in order to operate RPAS certificated in accordance with Annex 8, operators have an RPAS operator certificate issued in accordance with the provisions of Annex 6, Part IV and that remote pilots be licensed, or have their licences rendered valid, in accordance with the provisions of Annex 1.

The provisions contained herein do not apply to Open and Specific category operations.

While the application of the provisions of Annex 6, Part IV is clearly defined, States are encouraged to apply the SARPs contained herein for domestic RPAS operations, as appropriate.

Operators of remotely piloted aircraft systems for which applicable airworthiness international Standards are not contained in Annex 8, such as those in the Open or Specific categories, may conduct cross-border operations, in accordance with the national regulations of each State involved. “Cross-border” operations are those where an RPA crosses the sovereign or territorial borders of two or more States, or when the RPA and the RPS are in different States. It also includes RPA operations within the sovereign or territorial borders of a State different from the State of Registry; however, it does not include operations where either the RPA or the RPS are over or on the high seas.

Annex 6, Part IV SARPs were largely developed based on operations under instrument flight rules (IFR). States are encouraged to apply the SARPs provided herein for domestic RPAS operations, as appropriate. Unlike Annex 6, Parts I, II and III, which are specific to either aeroplanes or helicopters, Part IV applies to both aeroplane and helicopter categories that can be remotely piloted. In cases where a particular aircraft can, by design, be flown with a pilot on board or be remotely piloted, Part IV applies when the aircraft is being remotely piloted.

Annex 6, Part IV is applicable to the conduct of any international RPAS operation without distinction between commercial air transport and general aviation, including aerial work.

Unless otherwise stated, these provisions are applicable to both remotely piloted aeroplanes and remotely piloted helicopters without distinction between commercial air transport and general aviation, including aerial work. Where the Standards apply to both remotely piloted aeroplanes and remotely piloted helicopters, the Standards refer to RPA. Where they apply to one or the other, a clear distinction is made between remotely piloted aeroplane and remotely piloted helicopter.

Actions by Contracting States

Notification of differences. The attention of Contracting States is drawn to the obligation imposed by Article 38 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation by which Contracting States are required to notify the Organization of any differences between their national regulations and practices and the International Standards contained in this Annex and any amendments thereto. Contracting States are invited to extend such notification to any differences from the Recommended Practices contained in this Annex, and any amendments thereto, when the notification of such differences is important for the safety of air navigation. Further, Contracting States are invited to keep the Organization currently informed of any differences which may subsequently occur, or of the withdrawal of any differences previously notified. A specific request for notification of differences will be sent to Contracting States immediately after the adoption of each amendment to this Annex.

Attention of States is also drawn to the provisions of Annex 15 related to the publication of differences between their national regulations and practices and the related ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices through the Aeronautical Information Service, in addition to the obligation of States under Article 38 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Promulgation of information. The establishment, withdrawal of and changes to facilities, services and procedures affecting RPAS operations provided in accordance with the Standards and Recommended Practices specified in this Annex should be notified and take effect in accordance with the provisions of Annex 15.

Use of the text of the Annex in national regulations. The Council, on 13 April 1948, adopted a resolution inviting the attention of Contracting States to the desirability of using in their own national regulations, as far as is practicable, the precise language of those ICAO Standards that are of a regulatory character and also of indicating departures from the Standards, including any additional national regulations that are important for the safety or regularity of air navigation. Wherever possible, the provisions of this Annex have been written in such a way as would facilitate incorporation, without major textual changes, into national legislation.

Status of Annex components

An Annex is made up of the following component parts, not all of which, however, are necessarily found in every Annex; they have the status indicated:

1. – Material comprising the Annex proper:

a) Standards and Recommended Practices adopted by the Council under the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. They are defined as follows:

Standard: Any specification for physical characteristics, configuration, materiel, performance, personnel or procedure, the uniform application of which is recognized as necessary for the safety or regularity of international air navigation and to which Contracting States will conform in accordance with the Convention; in the event of impossibility of compliance, notification to the Council is compulsory under Article 38.

Recommended Practice: Any specification for physical characteristics, configuration, materiel, performance, personnel or procedure, the uniform application of which is recognized as desirable in the interest of safety, regularity or efficiency of international air navigation, and to which Contracting States will endeavour to conform in accordance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

b) Appendices comprising material grouped separately for convenience but forming part of the Standards and Recommended Practices adopted by the Council.

c) Definitions of terms used in the Standards and Recommended Practices which are not self-explanatory in that they do not have accepted dictionary meanings. A definition does not have independent status but is an essential part of each Standard and Recommended Practice in which the term is used, since a change in the meaning of the term would affect the specification.

d) Tables and Figures which add to or illustrate a Standard or Recommended Practice, and which are referred to therein, form part of the associated Standard or Recommended Practice and have the same status.

2. – Material approved by the Council for publication in association with the Standards and Recommended Practices:

a) Forewords comprising historical and explanatory material based on the action of the Council and including an explanation of the obligations of States with regard to the application of the Standards and Recommended Practices ensuing from the Convention and the Resolution of Adoption;

b) Introductions comprising explanatory material introduced at the beginning of parts, chapters or sections of the Annex to assist in the understanding of the application of the text;

c) Notes included in the text, where appropriate, to give factual information or references bearing on the Standards or Recommended Practices in question, but not constituting part of the Standards or Recommended Practices;

d) Attachments comprising material supplementary to the Standards and Recommended Practices, or included as a guide to their application.

Selection of language

This Annex has been adopted in six languages – English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. Each Contracting State is requested to select one of those texts for the purpose of national implementation and for other effects provided for in the Convention, either through direct use or through translation into its own national language, and to notify the Organization accordingly.

Editorial practices

The following practice has been adhered to in order to indicate at a glance the status of each statement: Standards have been printed in light face roman; Recommended Practices have been printed in light face italics, the status being indicated by the prefix Recommendation; Notes have been printed in light face italics, the status being indicated by the prefix Note.

The following editorial practice has been followed in the writing of specifications: for Standards the operative verb “shall” is used, and for Recommended Practices the operative verb “should” is used.

The units of measurement used in this document are in accordance with the International System of Units (SI) as specified in Annex 5 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Where Annex 5 permits the use of non-SI alternative units, these are shown in parentheses following the basic units. Where two sets of units are quoted it must not be assumed that the pairs of values are equal and interchangeable. It may, however, be inferred that an equivalent level of safety is achieved when either set of units is used exclusively.

Any reference to a portion of this document, which is identified by a number, includes all subdivisions of that portion.

¹ Annex 7, 2.2