ASTM F3389/F3389M-21 PDF

Full title and description

ASTM F3389/F3389M-21 — Standard Test Method for Assessing the Safety of Small Unmanned Aircraft Impacts. A consensus test method that provides analytical and laboratory procedures to evaluate the potential injury risk to a person struck by a small unmanned aircraft (sUA). The document supplies four alternative evaluation approaches (Methods A–D) — ranging from simple analytical models to instrumented anthropomorphic test device impact tests — intended to support civil aviation authority (CAA) submissions for operations over people.

Abstract

This test method establishes procedures to assess the energy transfer and resulting injury potential when a small unmanned aircraft impacts a person on the ground. It is applicable to sUAs that meet small-UAS limits referenced in U.S. regulation (14 CFR § 107.3) and is intended to be used alongside other ASTM F38 series standards (for example F3298, F3322 and F2910). The methods address blunt-force head impacts as the primary injury mechanism and use biomechanical metrics (e.g., peak head acceleration, Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck injury criteria) and instrumented Hybrid III ATD measurements where appropriate.

General information

• Status: Published / Active
• Publication date: September 1, 2021 (2021 edition).
• Publisher: ASTM International
• ICS / categories: 49.020 (Aircraft and space vehicles in general); related categories include air transport and unmanned aircraft system safety
• Edition / version: F3389/F3389M-21 (2021 edition)
• Number of pages: 13

Scope

Applies to small unmanned aircraft (sUA) operations where the aircraft mass/weight falls within small-UAS definitions used by CAAs (for U.S. operations, commonly referenced to 14 CFR § 107.3 and sUAs under 55 lbf). The standard provides a standardized framework to: (1) estimate impact energies for expected operating altitudes and speeds; (2) predict injury metrics using analytical methods; and (3) validate predictions with laboratory impact testing using instrumented anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs). It is intended as a supplement to other sUAS verification and design specifications and not as a stand-alone certification document.

Key topics and requirements

• Methods A–D for assessing impact safety: simple analytical approach, simplified test, rigourous instrumented test, and a normed test approach with safety margins.
• Definition and calculation of impact energy and terminal velocity as functions of altitude and operating conditions.
• Use of biomechanical injury metrics (e.g., peak head acceleration, HIC, Nij neck criterion) to assess injury risk.
• Recommended test apparatus and configurations including use of Hybrid III ATD head/neck instrumentation for Methods B–D where applicable.
• Consideration of orientation, most-probable-worst-case (MPWC) impact scenarios, and variability in impact dynamics for different sUA designs (multirotor, fixed-wing, foam-constructed vehicles).
• Guidance on interpreting results for submission to a CAA and on combining analytical and experimental results to support operations-over-people approvals.

Typical use and users

Primary users are sUAS manufacturers, integrators, third-party test laboratories, certification consultants, and civil aviation authorities reviewing operations-over-people approval packages. The standard is used to quantify injury potential for design verification, risk assessments, compliance documentation, and to support operational approvals where flights may be conducted over persons.

Related standards

Commonly referenced ASTM F38-series documents and related standards include: ASTM F3298 (design, construction and verification of lightweight/fixed-wing UAS), ASTM F3322 (specification for sUAS parachute recovery systems), ASTM F2910 (UAS functional/performance verification topics), ASTM F3411 (Remote ID and tracking specification), and other F38 airworthiness/operational standards and FAA advisory guidance on sUAS operations over people.

Keywords

small unmanned aircraft, sUA, sUAS, impact test, injury assessment, Head Injury Criterion (HIC), Hybrid III, anthropomorphic test device, operations over people, impact energy, injury metrics, CAA approval, ASTM F38

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM F3389/F3389M-21 is a test method standard that defines analytical and experimental procedures to assess the safety and injury potential when a small unmanned aircraft impacts a person on the ground.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers methods to calculate impact energy and to evaluate injury risk using analytical models and laboratory impact tests (including instrumented ATD tests). It focuses on blunt-force head impacts and provides pass/fail guidance in terms of biomechanical metrics used to support regulatory submissions for operations over people.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: sUAS manufacturers and designers, test laboratories, certification and compliance teams, safety engineers, and civil aviation authorities evaluating operations-over-people applications.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2021 edition (F3389/F3389M-21) is the published/active edition (publication date: September 1, 2021). Users should confirm with ASTM International or their national CAA for any later revisions or amendments before relying on the standard for compliance purposes.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ASTM F38 committee’s library of unmanned aircraft system standards and is intended to be used alongside related F38 documents (for example F3298, F3322, F2910 and F3411) to form a broader conformity and verification package for sUAS operations over people.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: small unmanned aircraft, sUA, impact, injury, Head Injury Criterion (HIC), Hybrid III, ATD, operations over people, safety assessment, ASTM F3389.