In controlled airspace it is the primary responsibility of Air Traffic Control (ATC) to ensure the safe separation of aircraft. In airspace without ATC services, it is the responsibility of the pilot to ensure separation. But even in controlled airspace, if a pilot indentifies and impending conflict, the pilot is authorised to take avoidance action even if it does not conform to the required Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). Therefore ultimately the manned aviation pilot is responsible for avoiding air-to-air collisions.
The challenge is to meet the D&A requirements with RPAS. The presence of other automated collision avoidance systems (which are widespread in commercial aviation) complicates matters, since any RPAS capability must be ‘compatible’ with them.
Further Reading
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