ASTM F2908-23 PDF

Full title and description

Standard Specification for Unmanned Aircraft Flight Manual (UFM) for an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). ASTM F2908-23 defines minimum content and format requirements for a manufacturer‑provided Unmanned Aircraft Flight Manual (UFM) intended for light unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The specification is designed to support consistent delivery of operating, performance, limitations, and maintenance/continued‑airworthiness information required by operators and civil aviation authorities.

Abstract

ASTM F2908-23 establishes the minimum information that must be supplied by a UAS manufacturer in an Unmanned Aircraft Flight Manual (UFM) for light UAS. Topics addressed include operating limitations, normal/abnormal/emergency procedures, system descriptions, performance and weight/balance data, and (where applicable) maintenance and continuing airworthiness instructions for owner/operator authorized maintenance. The document is intended to be used in conjunction with other Committee F38 UAS standards and may be used as part of a Means of Compliance for CAA approvals when accepted by the oversight authority.

General information

• Status: Active
• Publication date: August 1, 2023 (approved as F2908-23)
• Publisher: ASTM International
• ICS / categories: ICS 49.020 (Aircraft and space vehicles in general); UAS / unmanned aircraft systems standards (Committee F38)
• Edition / version: F2908-23 (current revision)
• Number of pages: 5

Scope

This specification provides minimum requirements for an Unmanned Aircraft Flight Manual (UFM) for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) designed, manufactured, and intended to be operated in the light UAS category as defined by a civil aviation authority (CAA). Depending on UAS size and complexity, the UFM may also include maintenance and continuing‑airworthiness instructions for owner/operator authorized maintenance. F2908-23 is intended to be applied together with relevant ASTM Committee F38 standards and may be used as part of a Means of Compliance for airworthiness, type certification, flight permits, or other approvals where accepted by the oversight authority. Any modifications that affect the accuracy of the UFM operating instructions should be approved by the manufacturer and communicated to the applicable regulatory authority.

Key topics and requirements

• Required content and organization of the Unmanned Aircraft Flight Manual (UFM)
• Operating limitations and placards—airworthiness and operational constraints
• Normal, abnormal and emergency procedures and checklists
• Systems descriptions and operating principles relevant to safe flight
• Performance data and weight & balance information applicable to the UAS configuration
• Maintenance and continued airworthiness guidance when applicable (owner/operator minor maintenance)
• Instructions for use as part of CAA approvals (type certificates, permits, airworthiness documents) and change control for UFM revisions
• Cross‑reference to other Committee F38 standards and terminology to ensure consistency

Typical use and users

Primary users include UAS manufacturers preparing an official UFM for sale or transfer, regulatory authorities evaluating UFMs as part of airworthiness or operational approvals, UAS operators and remote pilots who rely on the UFM for safe operation, maintenance personnel performing continuing airworthiness tasks, and training organizations that develop pilot or operator training materials. The standard is useful to engineers and technical writers who produce aircraft documentation and to compliance teams preparing submissions to CAAs.

Related standards

F2908-23 is part of the ASTM Committee F38 UAS library and is intended to be used with related documents such as F2909 (Continued Airworthiness of Lightweight UAS), F2910 (Design and Construction of a Small UAS), F3002 (Design of Command and Control Systems for sUAS), F3060 (Terminology for Aircraft), F3298 (Design, Construction, and Verification of Lightweight UAS), F3341/F3341M (Terminology for UAS), and other Committee F38 specifications and guides addressing training, maintenance manuals, quality, and production acceptance.

Keywords

Unmanned Aircraft Flight Manual; UFM; UAS; light unmanned aircraft systems; flight manual; continued airworthiness; maintenance manual; operating limitations; emergency procedures; ASTM F2908; Committee F38.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM F2908-23 is the Standard Specification for an Unmanned Aircraft Flight Manual (UFM) for an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). It defines the minimum content and organization a manufacturer should provide in a UFM for light UAS.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers required UFM content including operating limitations, normal/abnormal/emergency procedures and checklists, systems descriptions, performance and weight & balance data, and (where applicable) maintenance and continuing airworthiness guidance. It also addresses use of the UFM in support of CAA approvals and change control of UFM revisions.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: UAS manufacturers, technical writers, regulatory compliance teams, civil aviation authorities, UAS operators and remote pilots, maintenance personnel, and training organizations use the standard to prepare, review, or apply UFMs.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: F2908-23 is the current active revision, approved and published August 1, 2023. It replaces earlier editions (for example F2908-18 and prior versions). Users should verify acceptance of this edition with their oversight authority as part of any compliance or certification activity.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. F2908-23 is part of ASTM Committee F38’s UAS standards library and is intended to be used alongside related F38 standards (design, continued airworthiness, terminology, maintenance manuals, training, etc.) to provide a coordinated compliance/documentation package.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Key keywords are: Unmanned Aircraft Flight Manual (UFM), UAS, light unmanned aircraft systems, flight manual, continued airworthiness, maintenance manual, operating limitations, emergency procedures, ASTM F2908-23.