ABSTRACT
Autonomous aircraft are those that can operate without pilot inputs. These can be thought of as self-piloting aircraft. During the growth of the civilian RPA industry after 9/11 in 2001, many aviation professionals initially dismissed remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) as fancy remote-controlled (RC) aircraft that had limited use beyond hobby flying. Regulators were challenged to determine rules associated with how these devices would be piloted, navigated, maintained, and kept secure. Perhaps the biggest challenge with this emerging industry is that aviation is now accessible to the general public, as small RPAs have become available at a wide range of retailers. Growth in the civilian sector is driven by a variety of industries adopting RPAs to support their work. RPA technologies can expand the capabilities of the aviation system and offer a variety of advantages over traditional aviation. The civilian use of RPAs grew out of the recreational model aircraft sector, which has a history of minimal regulatory oversight.
