Estimated levels of safety for small unmanned aerial vehicles and risk mitigation strategies

In this paper the risks posed by small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) 1 are determined using quantitative methods, to calculate the estimated level of safety (ELS). The aim is to determine if the use of small UAVs for typical low altitude long endurance missions creates any increased risk versus manned aviation accident rates. The risk discussion includes both perceived concerns with the small UAV and the real physical risks posed. Once the ELS is known, possible mitigation methods are presented that may improve the safety of the small UAV to a level where it may considered as having an equivalent level of safety as manned aircraft operating in the same unsegregated civilian airspace.