CONTRADICTIONS IN CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFTOPERATION REGULATIONS IN UKRAINE

Abstract

Abstract. The article summarizes results of the study on the conceptual framework used in the normative legal acts that regulate unmanned aircraft operation in Ukraine. It reveals poor unification of and interpretation gaps in the conceptual framework used in normative legal acts that regulate unmanned aircraft operation in Ukraine, which causes contradictions in the understanding of the essence of a range of concepts. The article emphasizes the importance of investigating these contradictions and identifying their causes, and offers recommendations for solutions. Further, it analyzes the essence of the definitions «complex» and «system», and identifies their distinctive semantic features. On the basis of these findings, the article concludes that literal translation of the English phrase «unmanned aircraft system» is improper in Ukrainian regulations since it is scientifically unsound. The article also analyzes grounds for the use of the phrase «external pilot (operator)» in the normative legal acts that regulate unmanned aircraft operation in Ukraine. It concludes that some regulations replace the phrase «external pilot» with «remote pilot», and misuse the notion «operator» when referring to flying control of unmanned aerial vehicles. In the view of these findings and taking into consideration the Classification of Occupations DK 003:2010 of the National Classification of Ukraine, the article proposes to unify the definitions and their meaning concerning unmanned aircraft personnel by improving the conceptual framework content and introducing the notions «remote pilot of unmanned aircraft» and «remote pilot of unmanned aircraft - payload operator». Based on the results obtained when studying the conceptual framework, the article recommends to introduce corresponding amendments to decrees of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Air Code of Ukraine. Further research in the field of unmanned aircraft operation regulations in Ukraine may focus on regulation of the joint use of unmanned and manned aircraft in non-segregated airspace; implementation of the EU regulations of unmanned aircraft operation in Ukraine, etc.