ISO 21384-4-2020 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 21384-4-2020 — Unmanned aircraft systems — Part 4: Vocabulary. This International Standard defines terms and definitions relating to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) used in science, technology and operations to provide a common glossary for manufacturers, operators, regulators and researchers.

Abstract

This document provides a concise vocabulary of widely used terms for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), covering aircraft types, roles, operational concepts and related terminology to ensure consistent use of terms across standards, regulations and technical documentation.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn / superseded (replaced by ISO 21384-4:2025).
• Publication date: 2020 (original publication: May 2020).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 49.020 (Aircraft and space vehicles in general); (also indexed under 01.040.49 in later metadata).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2020).
• Number of pages: 10 pages (typical ISO pamphlet length for this part).

Scope

The standard defines and collects terms and definitions that are widely used in the UAS field (aircraft types, operational modes, crew/roles, components and procedural terminology). It is intended to be referenced by other UAS standards and by regulators, manufacturers and service providers to harmonize language and avoid ambiguity.

Key topics and requirements

• Authoritative definitions of common UAS terms (for example: aerial work, aeroplane, aerostat, remote pilot and multicopter).
• Vocabulary covering aircraft types, system components, operational roles and procedures used across the ISO 21384 series.
• Alignment of terminology to support consistent interpretation in design, operations, regulation and standards development.

Typical use and users

Used by standards writers, national standards bodies, aviation regulators, UAS manufacturers and system integrators, training organisations, test laboratories, research institutions and commercial operators who require a common glossary to ensure consistent communication across documents and jurisdictions.

Related standards

Part of the ISO 21384 series on unmanned aircraft systems. Closely related parts include ISO 21384-1 (general specification / foundational material and terms), ISO 21384-2 (UAS components) and ISO 21384-3 (operational procedures). Users should consult those parts for requirements on design, components and operations; the vocabulary in 21384-4 is intended to be referenced by them.

Keywords

UAS, unmanned aircraft systems, vocabulary, glossary, terminology, remote pilot, aeroplane, multicopter, aerostat, aerial work, UAS components, operational procedures.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 21384-4:2020 is the vocabulary (glossary) for unmanned aircraft systems — a short ISO International Standard that defines commonly used UAS terms.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It defines terms and definitions used across UAS standards and practice (aircraft types, roles, components and operational concepts) to ensure consistent language in standards, regulations and technical materials.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Standards developers, regulators, manufacturers, operators, researchers and training organisations — essentially anyone who needs a harmonized UAS vocabulary.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2020 edition has been superseded — ISO published a new edition (ISO 21384-4:2025) which replaces the 2020 version. Consult the later edition for the current authoritative vocabulary.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 4 of the ISO 21384 series on unmanned aircraft systems; other parts cover general specification, components and operational procedures.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: UAS, unmanned aircraft systems, vocabulary, glossary, remote pilot, aerial work, multicopter, aerostat, components, operations.