In September 2020, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) appointed CAAi to draft new Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) regulations. These regulations were designed to be harmonised with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards, ensuring the safe integration of UAS operations into Thailand’s aviation system
Case Study
CAA Thailand
Developing Unmanned Aircraft System Regulations
As drones become an integral part of daily life and work in Thailand, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) recognised the need to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework. CAAi was appointed to support CAA Thailand with a new set of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) regulations, tailored to Thailand’s unique regulatory environment, while being harmonised with EASA standards. The goal was to seamlessly integrate UAS operations into the existing aviation safety system, ensuring safe operations and unlocking significant socio-economic benefits for the country.
Drafting UAS Regulations for Safe Integration into the Aviation System
Overcoming Regulatory Challenges: Adapting Global UAS Standards to Thailand’s Unique Landscape
The existing UAS legislation in Thailand was straightforward, with assessments based on the type of operation a UAS was intended to perform. However, the UK and EASA UAS regulations, which the CAAT aimed to align with, are more complex, incorporating a risk-based (Safety Case) approach to assess UAS operations.
Additionally, while the UK and European states benefit from an independent certification body that evaluates manufacturing standards for electronic goods, Thailand does not have such a body. As a result, directly aligning Thai UAS regulations with EASA standards would not be a feasible solution for the country.
Customising UAS Regulations and Building Expertise with CAAT
CAAi and UK CAA experts began by thoroughly reviewing Thailand’s existing UAS regulations, working closely with the CAAT team to gain a deep understanding of the country’s current UAS operating, training, and approval processes. Given the differences between Thailand’s regulatory structure and that of Europe, the UK CAA UAS team customised the CAAT regulations to align with European standards where feasible, while ensuring they met the specific needs of CAAT.
Before finalising the new regulations, CAAi provided CAAT with a draft version, facilitating a detailed review and an open forum for questions to ensure CAAT’s full understanding of the regulations. CAAi also delivered training to the CAAT UAS team on the proposed regulations and the newly introduced process for assessing UAS Safety Cases, strengthening their expertise in the evolving regulatory landscape.
Tailored UAS Regulations and Procedures for Successful Implementation
The delivery approach allowed CAAT to engage directly with CAAi and the UK CAA UAS team, ensuring any questions or concerns were promptly addressed. The UK CAA UAS team brought extensive expertise, tailoring the regulations and supporting technical procedures to meet CAAT’s specific needs, rather than simply adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.
Upon project completion, CAAi equipped CAAT with a comprehensive set of new UAS regulations and technical procedures, providing the tools necessary for their implementation. The team also developed UAS application materials and revision procedures for issuing UAS operational authorisations, including those for large model aircraft UAS operations
”As UAS has become more common to our daily life, CAAT is pleased to deliver a regulatory system to ensure that new technology and innovation fits well with the aviation safety. CAAi has been a trusted partner of CAAT in regulation development and it is, therefore, our delight to work with them again on this issue
Dr Chula SukmanopFormer Director General of CAA Thailand
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