Terminology & Classification

Speaking the same language

Few things slow down a serious discussion about unmanned systems faster than two people using the same word to mean different things. Drone, UAV, UAS, RPAS, model aircraft – these are not interchangeable, and the distinctions carry real regulatory weight. This section exists to pin the vocabulary down, so that a conversation between an operator in one country and a regulator in another does not founder on terminology.

Classification matters just as much. How a platform is categorised – by weight, by capability, by the airspace it is cleared for – determines which rules apply to it. A system that falls into one class may be flown almost freely; the same machine reclassified may need a full operational authorisation. Getting the category right is the first step in any compliant operation.

A shared reference

The terminology and classification material here is meant as a neutral reference point that everyone can agree to use, drawing on the definitions adopted by the international bodies that set the standards. Full access is free for registered visitors. If you find a term that is missing or a definition that has drifted out of date as the rules have changed, let us know – this is precisely the kind of material that needs constant tending.