SUAS

Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) is a term used to describe the complete set of equipment and technologies required to operate a small unmanned aerial vehicle. A SUAS includes the air vehicle (the drone), the ground control station or control devices, the communications links, and any payloads and supporting equipment needed for flight and data collection. The term emphasizes the system as a whole rather than the aircraft alone and is widely used by regulators, military, and industry to distinguish small, civil or public-sector operations from larger, manned aircraft or higher-risk platforms.

Regulatory frameworks for SUAS vary by jurisdiction, but common elements include weight limits, operator certification, and safety requirements. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration uses the term sUAS to refer to unmanned systems weighing up to 55 pounds (25 kg) operated for non-hobby purposes, with Part 107 governing most commercial operations and requiring a remote pilot certificate, airspace authorization where needed, and adherence to limitations such as daylight operation and visual line of sight. In the European Union, the related category of small unmanned aircraft generally applies to aircraft up to 25 kg and follows a risk-based approach with registration and pilot competency requirements.

Applications for SUAS span commercial, public safety, and research sectors, including aerial photography and videography, cartography and surveying, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. Safety and standardization efforts continue to evolve, with professional training, airspace integration, and industry standards guiding best practices.