TP 15530 - Electrical systems - section overview

In plain language

This section outlines the knowledge requirements for RPA pilots operating within level 1 complex operations in Canada, covering electrical systems, redundancies, ground control stations, C2 links, radio waves, antennas, electromagnetic interference, and batteries.

Requirement as structured

This section outlines the knowledge requirements for RPA pilots operating within level 1 complex operations in Canada, covering electrical systems, redundancies, ground control stations, C2 links, radio waves, antennas, electromagnetic interference, and batteries.

Original regulatory text

The RPA pilot operating within level 1 complex operations must be able to: - Explain the importance of keeping components within the manufacturer’s recommended specifications regarding moisture, temperature and any other environmental limitations. - Explain what an RPAS waterproof rating is and any limitations of that rating. - Describe how to determine battery consumption during flight. Redundancies and critical items The RPA pilot operating within level 1 complex operations must be able to: - State the value of having redundancy built into RPAS operating scenarios. - Explain how to anticipate and plan for system failures and abnormalities, in developing mitigation procedures. - Describe how to identify single points of failure in an RPAS. - Describe latent failures & how to identify abnormal operating conditions. - Explain how pre-flight checks and scheduled maintenance can protect against latent failures. - Describe related cascading failures of systems or components. - Describe flight envelope protection systems and what their purpose is. Ground control station (GCS) The RPA pilot operating within level 1 complex operations must be able to: - State the importance of antenna orientation. - Determine altitude of the GCS. - Describe different altitude metrics related to ground control station location (HAE, AGL, ASL, Baro Corrected, Pressure Altitude) and how to convert between them. - Demonstrate an understanding of external factors that may affect the operation of the GCS. Data and command and control (C2) links The RPA pilot operating within level 1 complex operations must be able to: - Assess and predict the impact the radio frequency (RF) environment may have on the RPAS operation. - Discuss lost link and methods of recovery and contingencies. - Explain the purpose and function of an RPAS C2 system. - Describe the suitability of using radio, cellular or a satellite C2 link for telemetry & control of a RPA in different operational environments. - Describe the operational limitation of the various types of C2 links and the methods used to increase range and signal robustness. - Describe the difference between latency and bandwidth. - Describe the impact on bandwidth by data speed. - Explain ISP redundancy and power redundancy regarding internet-based ground control stations and C2 or C3 links. - Explain how local and portable devices might be configured to reduce interference. Radio waves – Characteristics & modulation The RPA pilot operating within level 1 complex operations must be able to: - Explain the principles of a radio wave inverse-squared relation with respect to power and distance. - Explain the radio frequency spectrum and how it is divided up. - Explain what frequency bands are allowed for RPAS use in Canada, and when approval for frequency use is required. - Explain the characteristics of radio waves and radio wave propagation. - Describe the meaning of attenuation and how signals can be affected. - Explain environmental conditions that can affect C2 link integrity. - Explain how multipath propagation and signal reflection can affect C2 links. - Explain the expected effect of spatial diversity on C2. - Describe the Fresnel zone area surrounding a C2 link and its vulnerability. - Explain the basic measures to follow to maximize signal strength during long range missions. - Identify the principal frequencies and types of modulation used for RPAS C2 links. - Describe benefits and drawbacks of different types of C2 links. Antennas The RPA pilot operating within level 1 complex operations must be able to: - Explain importance of antenna integrity before flight. - Explain how to reference manufacturer information regarding antennas required for flight. Electro magnetic interference (EMI) The RPA pilot operating within level 1 complex operations must be able to: - Identify the potential sources of EMI in a RPA

Applies when

country

Canada

operation type

level_1_complex_operations

regulatory category

Specific