The introduction of new Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) regulations tailored to Thailand’s regulatory environment and harmonised with EASA standards.
Background
As drones become an aspect of daily life and work in Thailand, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) wanted to establish a regulatory framework to integrate UAS operations into the existing aviation safety system to ensure safe operations and further socio-economic benefits. In September 2020, CAAT appointed CAAi to draft new Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) regulations that would be harmonised with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards and help safely integrate the operations of UAS into Thailand’s aviation system.
Challenges
The existing UAS legislation in Thailand was simple, and the assessment concept was based on the type of operation that the UAS was to perform. The UK and EASA UAS regulations, which the CAAT wanted to align to, is complex and the assessment of the UAS operations follows the risk-based (Safety Case) approach.
In addition, the UK and European States have an independent certification body that assesses manufacturing standards for electronic goods. There is no such body in Thailand. Therefore, aligning Thai UAS regulations directly with the EASA regulation would not work for Thailand.
Our Solution
CAAi and UK CAA experts started by reviewing Thailand’s existing UAS regulations. CAAi worked with the CAAT team to understand Thailand’s current UAS operating, training and approval process. Considering the differences between Thailand’s and European UAS regulatory structure, the UK CAA UAS team tailored the CAAT UAS regulations to ensure they meet the needs of CAAT and align to the European system where possible.
Before finalising the new regulations, CAAi provided CAAT with draft regulations and facilitated an opportunity for questions to ensure CAAT understood all aspects to reinforce the understanding of new regulations. CAAi provided the CAAT UAS team with training on the proposed regulations and the newly introduced assessment of UAS Safety Cases.
Outcomes
The delivery approach allowed CAAT to engage with CAAi and the UK CAA UAS team directly with any queries they may have had. The UK CAA UAS team provided the breadth of experience to enable the regulations and supporting technical procedures to be tailored to CAAT needs rather than just copying the regulation and expecting the customer to make it work.
On project completion, CAAi equipped CAAT with new UAS regulations and supporting technical procedures to help CAAT implement the regulations. The team developed UAS application materials and revision procedures for the issue of the UAS operational authorisation, including procedures for large model aircraft UAS operational authorisations.
Country Profile
- Name of country: The Kingdom of Thailand
- Size of the country: 513,120km2
- Population:68,860,000
- Number of international airports: 11
- Number of international carriers: 20
- International passengers traffic: 434, 000
- Contribution of Travel and Tourism to GDP (2020): 65%
Key Achievements
- New UAS regulations tailored to Thailand’s requirements
- New UAS application materials and revision procedures for the issue of UAS operational authorisation
- Development of procedures for large model aircraft UAS operational authorisations
