ANAC RBAC 100 Remote Pilot flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

RBAC 100

Brazilian regulation for civil remotely piloted aircraft, defining operational classes by maximum takeoff mass and the registration, licensing, and authorization requirements for UAS operations in Brazil.

RPA registration threshold

RPA with maximum takeoff mass above 250 g must be registered with ANAC through SISANT, and the registration number must be displayed on the aircraft and available during operations.

Remote pilot license

ANAC-issued license required for pilots of RPA above 25 kg, or operating BVLOS, or above 400 ft AGL; it requires a medical certificate and a recognized competency assessment.

ICAO Annex 2

Annex containing the rules of the air, including right-of-way rules; RPA must give way to manned aircraft, and an aircraft in distress has priority over all others.

Class G airspace

Uncontrolled airspace where no ATC clearance is required; see-and-avoid and right-of-way rules apply, and RPA operations still require compliance with RBAC 100 limits.

400 ft AGL limit

Standard maximum altitude for RPA operations under RBAC 100; operations above this limit require specific ANAC authorization and coordination with the responsible ATS unit.

ATZ coordination

Operations within the aerodrome traffic zone or control zone require prior coordination with the aerodrome operator and ATC; the typical protected radius is 9 km (5 NM).

VLOS default

The remote pilot must maintain direct unaided visual contact with the RPA; beyond visual line of sight operations require specific authorization and, where applicable, detect-and-avoid capability.

Density altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for temperature and humidity; higher density altitude reduces air density, propeller thrust, and lift, degrading RPA performance during takeoff and climb.

Wind limit rule

Small multirotor RPA typically have a maximum safe wind limit of about 8–10 m/s (15–20 kt); operations should be suspended when gusts exceed the manufacturer's demonstrated limit.

Thunderstorm avoidance

A 20 km (10 NM) avoidance margin from cumulonimbus clouds is a common operational rule; operations should be suspended when lightning is within 10 km of the operating area.

Lithium-polymer cold effect

Battery capacity drops significantly below 0 °C and above 40 °C; battery temperature should be checked before flight to avoid voltage sag and sudden power loss.

Maximum takeoff mass

The maximum mass at which the RPA is approved for takeoff, including airframe, batteries, payload, and installed equipment; it must never be exceeded in any configuration.

Center of gravity envelope

The manufacturer-specified range of CG positions within which the RPA is controllable; loading must keep CG inside this envelope, and any configuration change requires verification.

Battery reserve rule

A common planning rule is to reserve at least 20% of battery capacity for contingencies and landing, accounting for wind, temperature, and unexpected delays.

Load factor limit

The maximum g-load the RPA structure is designed to withstand, typically 2–3 g for small RPA; abrupt maneuvers and gusts can exceed this and cause structural failure.

GNSS signal quality

Satellite availability and HDOP/VDOP must be verified before flight; poor geometry degrades position accuracy, and the pilot must have a contingency for GNSS loss.

Return-to-home altitude

The pre-set altitude the RPA climbs to before returning to the launch point; it must be set above the tallest obstacle in the operating area to avoid collisions.

Geofence

A software-defined boundary that limits where the RPA can fly; it must match the authorized operating area and is a key barrier against airspace violations.

Coordinate formats

Latitude and longitude can be expressed in decimal degrees or degrees-minutes-seconds; the pilot must know the format used by the navigation system and ATS unit.

Risk matrix

A tool combining likelihood and severity to assess risk; the operation is acceptable only if residual risk after mitigations is tolerable, and the assessment must be documented.

Lost link procedure

The RPA executes a predefined action, typically return-to-home or hover and land; the pilot monitors the RPA and coordinates with ATC if operating in controlled airspace.

Fly-away response

The pilot should not chase the RPA; instead, notify ATC, record the last known position, and follow the operator's emergency plan, including reporting to ANAC and CENIPA.

Accident reporting

Accidents involving injury or damage must be reported to CENIPA and ANAC; the operator must preserve evidence and cooperate with the investigation.

Situational awareness

The perception and understanding of the operational environment; its loss is a leading factor in UAS accidents, especially in BVLOS and high-workload phases.

DECIDE model

A structured decision-making model: Detect, Estimate, Choose, Identify, Do, Evaluate; it helps pilots make systematic in-flight decisions under time pressure.

Just culture

A safety culture that encourages reporting of errors and near misses without fear of punishment, improving safety data and prevention of future accidents.

Read-back requirement

Clearances and instructions that affect safety must be read back to the issuing controller to confirm correct understanding and reduce communication errors.

MAYDAY and PAN-PAN

MAYDAY is the distress call for grave and imminent danger; PAN-PAN is the urgency call for a serious but non-immediate situation; both require position and intentions.

C2 link

The command and control data link between the control station and the RPA; it must be monitored for signal strength and latency, with a procedure for degradation.

Propeller thrust relation

Thrust is proportional to propeller speed squared and to air density; high density altitude reduces available thrust, limiting payload and climb performance.

Flight controller modes

Manual, attitude, GPS, and autonomous modes offer different automation levels and failure responses; the pilot must be proficient in switching between them.