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John Monk |
The CSIR's John Monk, a principal aeronautical engineer, has been appointed by the Civil Aviation Authority to a newly formed body that will investigate the incorporation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into civil airspace.
This independent body is called the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Standards Working Group (UASSWG). His areas of expertise will be utilised to coordinate the development of airworthiness requirements, minimum aviation system performance standards and draft regulations.
Monk has been involved with unmanned aircraft for more than 20 years and is the person responsible for coordinating the current UAV research work at the CSIR. He is also currently the chairperson of the national unmanned aerial systems policy coordination committee through whose actions the formation of the new working group was initiated.
"We need to ensure that all current local and planned classes of UAVs are catered for through representation on the working group," he says, and adds that he hopes that his appointment will assist this new body as he will be bringing his UAV experience and aeronautical background. Monk says that he, together with other members of the working group, will assist in getting legislation and policies in place to allow unmanned vehicles to fly safely in civil airspace.
He says, "It's important that the CSIR be involved in initiatives such as these as we have a great deal of background knowledge and expertise that we can bring to the table and, as we have no product affiliation, we can usually assume a neutral position in discussions. We typically do UAV-related research to support industry and academia, and we need to ensure that all UAVs will be able to fly safely under the future guidelines."
Monk was involved in the design of advanced technology and engineering's Vulture UAV airframe.
Enquiries: CSIR Communications
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