International Consortium of Aeronautical Test Sites

The aim of the International Consortium of Aeronautical Test Sites (ICATS) is to support the industry by enabling the development, test and ultimate certification of Remotely Piloted Systems (RPS) to allow for their use in non-segregated airspace.

This is achieved by sharing of information on operational safety, flight regulations and, when allowed to do so, actual operational experiences. The consortium also encourage the industry to demonstrate and prove sub-system technology that will enable the necessary international standards for future UAS/RPAS construction to be created, and work with their respective regulatory bodies to safely develop UAS/RPAS capabilities while continuing the operational confidence building process.

The test centres support and guide the industry in the development, operations and certification of UAS/RPAS as established by their respective regulating bodies. The centres therefore accompany and funnel the innovation of the private sector while coordinating with government entities. The sharing of information on rules, regulations and actual test results between the test sites consequently minimize the stovepipe approach that might otherwise prevent cross-border operations of unmanned systems. The test centres help continue to bridge the gap between the establishment of regulations and actual operations.