Background: Aircraft Classification in Aviation

Over the years, extensive experience with manned aircraft has enabled aviation authorities and industry experts to develop comprehensive and widely recognized systems for classifying these vehicles. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) categorizes civil aircraft using an organized hierarchy that includes categories, classes, and types—illustrated in Table 1. This well-established structure is fundamental to key functions such as pilot training, certification, and ensuring the safe operation and oversight of aircraft within the National Airspace System.

While the classification system for traditional aircraft types is well-established and consistent, the landscape for UAS is markedly different. In the UAS realm, the rapid pace of technological advancements and the proliferation of diverse applications have led to significant variation in classification approaches among defense, civil, and commercial sectors.