ASTM F2851-10

Aircraft flying in national airspace are required by the ICAO Chicago Convention and national regulatory rules to have visible markings to determine nationality and registration. UAS shall comply with these rules, although small UAS will have unique rules or exemptions from existing rules due to their small size. This standard is designed to allow UAS to comply with these marking requirements in Annex 7 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation as amended by state regulatory rules.

Many ICAO states are assigning UAS to different classes and categories to define the rules UAS must operate under. The ICAO Annex 7 Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) apply to UAS Aircraft with the exception of small UAS. The classification of what constitutes a small UAS (sUAS) has been left to ICAO states and the rules under which sUAS operate are dictated by each state.

This practice follows ICAO Annex 7 SARPS except in areas where the unique aspects of UAS may not allow compliance. In these cases, this document will address the issue and recommend the need for an alternate compliance method.

1.1 This practice prescribes guidelines for the display of marks to indicate appropriate UAS registration and ownership for all Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) except those categorized as small UAS (sUAS) by regulatory authorities. The FAA is developing a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) to define the term small UAS and provide regulations for these aircraft.

1.2 This practice will allow determination of nationality in cases where UAS may cross international boundaries.

1.3 This practice does not apply to sUAS. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has left the designation of sUAS to each state and the states will develop rules and regulations for sUAS.

1.4 This practice does not apply to model aircraft.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.