When a remotely piloted aircraft is operating under scenarios S-1, S-2, or S-3, the operator must establish a third-party exclusion zone.
This zone is used to keep people who are not involved in the mission away, to minimize the risks in the event of a crash or emergency landing.
The operator must ensure that no third party enters the exclusion zones at any time during the flight.
Who can be considered a third party?
A third party is a person who is not directly involved in the mission. Under no circumstances may these third parties enter the exclusion zone.
The following are not considered third parties:
– persons involved in flying the aircraft (the remote pilot)
– people involved in operating mission equipment (such as the cameraman)
– people isolated by a safety a device or structure that provides sufficient protection
– individuals directly involved in the specific activity who have signed a certificate (available by clicking here) stipulating that they have been informed of the emergency procedures established by the operator in the event of an in-flight incident involving the aircraft (this may be the case, for example, at a wedding: the guests being photographed are not part of the mission, but in order to be photographed, they must agree to have the drone fly over them and therefore sign a statement).
Scenario S-1:
In the case of an aircraft used in Scenario S-1, the maximum third-party exclusion zone is a disk with a 30-meter radius centered on the aircraft’s projection on the ground.
However, when the remote pilot has ground speed information, the 30-meter radius may be reduced(but never below 10 meters) if the remotely piloted aircraft is:
– an airship weighing < 8 kg
– an aerodyne equipped with a third-party protection device (parachute) weighing ≤ 8 kg
– an aerodyne weighing ≤ 2 kg when used at a height ≤ 50 meters
In this case, the radius of the circle defining the third-party exclusion zone must be calculated using the following formula:
(source : JO n°0298 du 24/12/2015)
In practice, this formula is difficult to implement. If you need to know this (especially for the exam), the Guide Drones: Guide Catégorie Spécifique includes an appendix with tables listing R values based on the altitude and speed of the remotely piloted aircraft. These handy tables simplify mission planning. They are provided at the bottom of the page.
Note that, in the case of scenario S-1, it is possible to move the third-party exclusion zone at the same time the unmanned aircraft is moving! However, caution is required: in the event of a loss of radio connection, the device must be properly configured so that it does not leave the exclusion zone.
Scenario S-2:
In the case of an aircraft used in Scenario S-2, the minimum exclusion zone for third parties is an area—fixed for the entire duration of the flight—corresponding to the ground projection of the maximum flight volume plus a horizontal safety margin of 30 meters.
Unlike the S-1, the exclusion zone cannot be moved at the same time as the remotely piloted aircraft. It is therefore advisable to plan the flight route in advance so as to create a single exclusion zone that encompasses all of the drone’s possible maneuvers.
Scenario S-3:
For Scenario S-3, the procedure is very similar to that of Scenario S-1.
However, one requirement has been added:
– For tethered- >, 8 kg, and tethered-aerodynes weighing over 2 kg that are not equipped with a third-party protection device, a disk centered on the attachment point of the restraint device, with a radius equal to the maximum cable length expected during use, plus 5 meters.
The formula and the way it is used therefore remain the same as in the S-1 scenario.
Resources:
There are many ways to mark out your route:
– use marker trestles
– marker tape:
– In the city center, you can contact the municipal police or security guards:
In some cases, you’ll be able to use existing barriers: for example, you can use the fence surrounding a building that you need to fly over. However, it is still your responsibility to ensure that no third party enters this area, so don’t hesitate to put up signs!
Summary tables:
Here are the summary tables to simplify the use of the formula shown above.
They are taken from Appendix 7 of the Drones Guide: Specific Category Guide.
Of course, you don’t need to know them, but they will help you prepare for your missions.
