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Designation: F2908 − 14

StandardSpecification for
Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) for a Small Unmanned Aircraft
System (sUAS)1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2908; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope F3003 Specification for Quality Assurance of a Small Un-

1.1 This specification provides the minimum requirements manned Aircraft System (sUAS)
for an Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) for an unmanned aircraft F3005 Specification for Batteries for Use in Small Un-
system (UAS) designed, manufactured, and operated in the manned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)
small UAS (sUAS) category as defined by a nation’s Govern-
ing Aviation Authority (GAA). Depending on the size and 3. Terminology
complexity of the sUAS, an AFM may also contain the 3.1 Definitions:
instruction for maintenance and continuing airworthiness for 3.1.1 basic empty weight (BEW), n—basic empty weight
owner / operator authorized maintenance. includes the standard empty weight plus operational and
1.2 This specification defines the AFM information that special equipment that has been installed in the unmanned
shall be provided by the manufacturer of a sUAS as part of the aircraft.

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seeking a Standards
initial sale or transfer to an end user. 3.1.2 field maintenance, n—inspections and repairs made by
1.3 This specification applies to a sUAS nation’s owners/operators at a remote operating location away from
their normal maintenance facility/provider.
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
GAA approval, in the form of flight certificates, airworthiness
certificates, type certificates, flight permits, or other like 3.1.3 flight training supplement (FTS), n—additional infor-
documentation as a sUAS, in the configuration specified in the mation provided by the sUAS manufacturer to provide instruc-
AFM delivered with the system.
Document
1.4 Any modifications that invalidate or otherwise affect the
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tion in the proper operation of the system.
3.1.4 landing area, n—the total area defined by the manu-
accuracy of AFM operating instructions shall be approved by facturer needed to recover and bring the sUAS to a complete
the manufacturer and communicated to the regulatory ASTM
authorityF2908-14
stop from a height of 35 feet above the surface.
in the certificate / permit application.
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3.1.5 manufacturer, n—entity responsible for assembly and
integration of components and subsystems to create a safe
2. Referenced Documents operating sUAS.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 3.1.6 maximum takeoff weight, n—the maximum allowable
F2909 Practice for Maintenance and Continued Airworthi- weight for takeoff (including payload).
ness of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)
F2910 Specification for Design, Construction, and Test of a 3.1.7 minimum operating crew (MOC), n—the minimum
Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) operating crew includes the pilot in command, a visual
F2911 Practice for Production Acceptance of a Small Un- observer (if one is required) and any other required crew
manned Aircraft System (sUAS) member in order to safely operate a specific UAS which
F3002 Specification for Design of the Command and Con- includes the make, model and control station specific to that
trol System for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) unmanned aircraft.
3.1.8 model number, n—a manufacturer-issued unique iden-
tifying number or code assigned to each manufactured type of
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F38 on aircraft having the same structural design, components, and
Unmanned Aircraft Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F38.03 standard configuration.
on Personnel Training, Qualification and Certification.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2014. Published February 2014. DOI: 3.1.9 pre-flight planning, n—an activity conducted by the
10.1520/F2908-14.
2
pilot and his/her flight crew prior to takeoff to ensure that the
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
flight will be conducted safely and in accordance with all
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on applicable standards and regulations. The activity includes, but
the ASTM website. is not limited to, such things as checking weather, route of

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1
 F2908 − 14
flight, airspace, equipment configuration, support personnel, provide for the sense and avoid requirement to avoid collisions
terrain and communications requirements. with other aircraft and that the maximum range and altitude at
3.1.10 shall vs. should vs. may, v—use of the word “shall” which the sUAS can be flown at will be specified by the
implies that a procedure or statement is mandatory and must be nation’s GAA. Unless otherwise specified by a nation’s GAA
followed to comply with this standard, “should” implies this standard applies only to UA that have a maximum take off
recommended, and “may” implies optional at the discretion of gross weight of 55 lb/25 kg or less.
the supplier, manufacturer, or operator. Since “shall” state-
ments are requirements, they include sufficient detail needed to 5. General Requirements
define compliance (for example, threshold values, test 5.1 The AFM shall provide information in the following
methods, oversight, reference to other standards). “Should” areas for a specific model of sUAS:
statements are provided as guidance towards the overall goal of 5.1.1 System description.
improving safety, and could include only subjective statements. 5.1.2 Operating characteristics.
“Should” statements also represent parameters that could be
5.1.3 Performance and limitations.
used in safety evaluations, and could lead to development of
future requirements. “May” statements are provided to clarify 5.1.4 Normal, abnormal, and emergency operating proce-
acceptability of a specific item or practice, and offer options for dures.
satisfying requirements. 5.1.5 Installed controls, indicators, equipment, and accesso-
ries. This information shall be included through one of the
3.1.11 small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS),
following methods:
n—composed of the small unmanned aircraft (sUA) and all
5.1.5.1 Instructions for maintenance and continuing airwor-
required on-board subsystems, payload, control station, other
thiness.
required off-board subsystems, any required launch and recov-
ery equipment, and command and control (C2) links between 5.1.5.2 Referencing separate component manufacturer pro-
the sUA and the control station. For purposes of this standard vided instructions or manuals.
sUAS is synonymous with the term small Remotely Piloted 5.1.5.3 Any combination of 5.1.5.1 and 5.1.5.2.

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Aircraft System (sRPAS) and sUA is synonymous with the
5.2 The AFM technical content shall be consistent with the
term small Remotely Piloted Aircraft (sRPA). data developed in accordance with Practice F2909 and Speci-
fications F2910, F3005, and F3002.
3.1.12 takeoff area, n—the total area defined by the manu-
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
facturer needed to launch the sUAS to a point where the
aircraft is 35 feet above the takeoff surface.
5.3 The AFM shall be structured in accordance with Section
6 of this standard.
3.2 Acronyms:
3.2.1 AFM—aircraft flight manual
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5.4 The AFM content shall be in accordance with Section 7
of this standard.
3.2.2 AGL—above ground level
3.2.3 BEW—basic empty weight ASTM F2908-14 5.5 All revisions, omissions, errors, changes, or updates to
the AFM shall be tracked and distributed to all sUAS owners
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3.2.4 IAS—indicated airspeed of record in accordance with the quality assurance require-
3.2.5 MOC—minimum operating crew ments of Specification F3003.
3.2.6 MSL—mean sea level 5.6 The AFM shall present a style, format, and appearance
in accordance with accepted government or industry best
4. Applicability practices for human readable technical manuals (for example,
4.1 The purpose of the AFM is to provide guidance to MIL-STD-3001 “Preparation of Digital Technical Information
owners, mechanics, pilots, crew members, airports, regulatory for Multi-Output Presentation of Technical Manuals”).
officials, and aircraft and component manufacturers who per- Additionally, if the AFM is provided in electronic format, it
form or provide oversight of sUAS flight operations. shall conform to common industry or government best prac-
4.2 For sUAS of a certain size and simplicity, the AFM may tices for readability, indexing, navigation, scrolling and print-
also cover instruction for maintenance and continued airwor- ing.
thiness for the minor maintenance, repair, and alteration of 5.7 All measurements shall be consistent with the equip-
sUAS as provided for in section 7.10 of this standard. ment and instrumentation installed in the sUAS.
4.3 During the design and flight testing of a sUAS the 5.8 Flight altitudes shall be barometric altitudes referenced
manufacturer shall identify and record those items that are either to MSL or AGL (barometric AGL is barometric altitude
required to be included in the AFM as prescribed in this measured at the ground location of operation subtracted from
standard. the barometric altitude in flight).
4.4 Sections 6 and 7 of this standard serve as templates for 5.9 Due to the wide variety in size, weight and system
manufacturers to structure their AFM. complexity of sUAS, not all items will apply to all systems.
4.5 This standard is written for all sUAS that are permitted Optional items are marked by (O). Components required for
to operate over a defined area and in airspace authorized by a the safe operation of the sUAS may not be identified as
nation’s GAA. It is assumed that a visual observer(s) will optional (O) in the AFM. All other items are considered