ASTM F3623-23 PDF

Overview

ASTM F3623-23: Standard Specification for Surveillance Supplementary Data Service Providers is an international standard published by ASTM International, under the jurisdiction of Committee F38 on Unmanned Aircraft Systems. This specification establishes the minimum performance requirements for Surveillance Supplementary Data Service Providers (SDSPs) and associated equipment and services. SDSPs play a crucial role by supplying supplemental surveillance information, such as aircraft track data, which supports Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems and enhances situational awareness. This is critical for enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), as well as supporting Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) activities.

The specification is primarily intended for use in low- to medium-risk airspace (equivalent to JARUS SORA ARC-b and ARC-c) and typically covers operations below 10,000 feet above ground level (AGL), with emphasis on operations below 1,200 feet AGL.

Key Topics

• Performance Requirements: Defines minimum standards for data quality, accuracy, latency, availability, and the frequency of surveillance data updates provided by SDSPs.
• Service-Level Agreements (SLAs): Specifies the required provisions in agreements between SDSPs and end users, including performance metrics, notification protocols, data processing specifics, and responsibilities during service degradation.
• Roles and Responsibilities:
  • SDSPs must validate and communicate current system status, provide timely and accurate surveillance data, and implement procedures for notification during system failures or degraded performance.
  • End users are responsible for defining their operational needs and ensuring that the SDSP's data meets these requirements.
• Data Handling & Security: SDSPs are required to comply with information security best practices, manage data retention for safety investigations (minimum 30 days), and ensure machine-readable data delivery and secure, authenticated access.
• Interoperability: Aligns terminology and data protocols with other relevant UAS standards to enhance compatibility, clarity, and data exchange.

Applications

The ASTM F3623-23 standard has practical applications across a variety of unmanned aviation and airspace management scenarios:

• UAS Operations: Ensures that UAS operators, manufacturers, and integrators can rely on consistent, high-quality surveillance data to support both BVLOS and VLOS operations.
• Detect and Avoid Systems: Provides critical track information for DAA solutions, enhancing mid-air collision avoidance and overall airspace safety.
• UAS Traffic Management (UTM): Supports interoperability among different USS (UAS Service Suppliers) and SDSPs, fostering a cohesive ecosystem for monitoring, tracking, and incident response.
• Regulatory Compliance & Safety: Facilitates compliance with civil aviation authority requirements, including data retention, incident reporting, and corrective action for degraded service events.
• Risk Assessment: Offers a framework for verifying that risk ratios for airspace operations are achieved, aiding operators and authorities in operational approvals and oversight.

Related Standards

To implement robust UAS operations and comprehensive surveillance, ASTM F3623-23 should be used in conjunction with the following related standards and documents:

• ASTM F3442/F3442M: Specification for Detect and Avoid System Performance Requirements
• ASTM F3411: Specification for Remote ID and Tracking
• ASTM F3548: Specification for UAS Traffic Management (UTM) USS Interoperability
• RTCA DO-381A: Ground-based Surveillance System MOPS
• JARUS SORA: Specific Operations Risk Assessment Package
• EUROCAE ED-261: Safety and Performance Requirements for a Generic Surveillance System
• EUROCONTROL ESASSP: Specification for ATM Surveillance System Performance
• FAA and EASA Guidance: UAS Traffic Management Concepts, Safety Management Handbooks
• ITU-R M.2204: Spectrum Considerations for Sense and Avoid Systems

Practical Value

Implementing ASTM F3623-23 enhances operational safety, regulatory compliance, and seamless data integration. UAS operators, SDSPs, and UTM service providers relying on this standard can ensure accurate surveillance, clear roles, timely response to system health changes, and proper data retention for audits and investigations. This results in safer UAS operations, particularly for complex BVLOS missions and in shared or controlled airspace.

Keywords: ASTM F3623-23, Surveillance Supplementary Data Service Provider, SDSP, UAS, DAA, situational awareness, BVLOS, VLOS, performance requirements, SLA, airspace safety, data retention, interoperability, UTM.