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In this paper the experimental results of C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system integration on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are shown. The goal of the presented trials was to check the capabilities and limitations of the SAR system in UAV applications. The trials were conducted with a UAV system developed and operated by the Portuguese Air Force Academy (PAFA) using a compact SAR system, named SARENKA, developed by the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT).

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how to develop a methodology to set up an initial maintenance program for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) following the well-known Steering Maintenance Group logic method (MSG-3) and taking into account safety concerns based on items probabilities of failure. That is why it is stated that maintenance program is based on reliability principles. Design/methodology/approach The proposed methodology follows the MSG-3 framework applied to civil aircraft but where the determination of each probability of failure is achieved applying a morphological analysis. These probabilities are then affected by some factors to calculate the adjusted values to the specific conditions (design, operation and environment) under which the system is expected to operate. Findings Main findings are related to the applicability of the morphological analysis on the developing of an initial maintenance program when there is a lack of data that disable the establishment of a coherent maintenance program. Research limitations/implications Limitations are related to the absence of a legislative framework consensual in Europe for certification of UAVs and the lack of data concerning UAVs failure modes, causes and their probability of failure. Practical implications The developed work and the methodology proposed may be useful for UAVs maintenance program engineers and technicians when developing new systems. Originality/value The originality is based on the use of morphological analysis for UAVs to determine the items probabilities of failure when there is a no-data problem. Based on the referred analysis, it is possible to create an initial maintenance program for UAVs.

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The certification process plays an important role in aircraft safety and operation, assuring a high degree of confidence in accomplishing their objectives. Unfortunately, in the field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), there is not enough information to enable an acceptable decision-making process regarding compliance with certification requirements. To overcome this limitation, a methodology was developed based on morphological analysis principle, taking advantage of the knowledge and behaviour of similar items and affecting them with the necessary corrective factor in accordance to the differences in design, operation and environment. The objective is to establish an initial maintenance program as an important requirement to operate any kind of aircraft. This paper presents the methodology and the obtained results for a UAV under development concerning the establishment of a maintenance program regarding its certification process.