GM2 Article 3(1) U-space airspace

• ED Decision 2022/022/R found in: U-space (2021/664) (May 2024)

GM2 Article 3(1) U-space airspace ED Decision 2022/022/R AIRSPACE RISK ASSESSMENT — GENERAL (a) An airspace risk assessment involves making use of information to determine possible relevant air and ground risks posed by unmanned aircraft flying in the airspace volume assessed, and regulate the conditions on privacy, security and environmental protection for all parties involved, including the citizens. (b) An airspace risk assessment is a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis ensuring that safety and performance criteria are defined, and that assumptions and enablers are consistent with the current airspace design and procedures. The methodology used in this process needs to contain a clear set of objectives and a realistic view of the operations conducted in a given airspace volume. (c) Different formats are recognised (formal to less formal) for the approach to the analytical aspects of an airspace risk assessment. For some hazards, the number of variables and the availability of both suitable data and mathematical models may lead to credible results with sole quantitative methods (requiring mathematical analysis of specific data). However, few hazards in aviation lend themselves to credible analysis solely through quantitative methods. Typically, these analyses are supplemented qualitatively through critical and logical analysis of the known facts and their relationships. (d) When available, appropriate tools for the quantitative analysis of the ground and air risk assessment may be used for the substantiation of the airspace risk assessment. (e) In the case of UAS operators that intend to operate within a specific category under an operational authorisation or a light UAS operator certificate (LUC), the risk assessment referred to in Article 5(2) of [Regulation (EU) 2019/947](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019R0947&qid=1704799602760) should consider the outputs of the airspace risk assessment. (f) The objective of the methodology applied should be to define a means for providing assurance that the U-space is acceptably safe, secure, and that privacy and environmental concerns are duly considered, covering at least the definition phase of the life cycle, and leading to the designation of the U-space airspace. Furthermore, the deployment of an operational U-space airspace requires an iterative process, through its development life cycle, from initial system definition to transition into service and finally to operations. The iterative process could make use of different tools and methods, such as fault-tree analyses, event-tree analyses, common‑-cause analyses, data collection, tests and validations, or documentation of the evidence, among others. During this process, the original airspace risk assessment could be modified through a feedback loop if necessary. (g) An airspace risk assessment should be revised when the operational, regulatory and technology deployment context significantly evolves, or when the criteria too upon which the airspace has been designed significantly evolve. The operational context includes incident and accident reports, traffic density, new procedures, and new stakeholders. The frequency of the reassessment depends on local conditions, and is expected to be performed in conjunction with the activities of the coordination mechanism in [Article 18](#_DxCrossRefBm1226739972)(f) of Regulation (EU) 2021/664.