Definition
An aircraft operated without a pilot on board, together with all the equipment needed to fly it remotely. This includes the aircraft itself (the unmanned aircraft), the control station used by the remote pilot, the command-and-control link between them, and any other components required for safe operation, such as launch and recovery equipment.
Plain English
The whole package needed to fly an aircraft from the ground: the aircraft, the controls the operator uses, and the radio link that connects the two. Most people call the aircraft itself a drone, but the system is more than just the aircraft.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter this term in FAA rules, airspace notices, traffic reports, airport operations, and discussions about drones operating near other aircraft.
Derivation
The word 'unmanned' simply means 'without a person aboard.' The term is deliberately written as a 'system' rather than just 'aircraft' because regulators wanted to capture everything required to operate it safely, not only the flying part.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must account for UAS operations to maintain safe separation and comply with airspace rules in shared airspace.
Grounding Statement
Picture a small aircraft in the air, with the pilot on the ground using a controller and a communication link to fly it.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “unmanned” means no human is involved. It means no person is onboard the aircraft; a person may still be controlling it from the ground.
Example Sentence 1
The NOTAM advised pilots of UAS operations within a two-mile radius of the bridge below 400 feet AGL.
Example Sentence 2
ATC coordinated with the UAS operator to ensure safe passage through the area.