Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for Public Safety · Presented to: Federal Fire Working Group Presented by: John Meehan, FAA UAS Integration Office Date: 13 November 2017 Unmanned

Presented to: Federal Fire Working Group

Presented by: John Meehan, FAA UAS Integration

Office

Date: 13 November 2017

Unmanned Aircraft

Systems (UAS) for

Public Safety

Federal AviationAdministration 2

www.faa.gov/uas

Unmanned Aircraft Systems OverviewNovember 13, 2017

Overview

• Getting Started

• Public vs Civil Framework

• Public Aircraft Operations

• Special Gov’t Interest (eCOAs)

• UAS Registration

• Handy Tools and References


www.faa.gov/uas


FAA Mission

The FAA’s continuing mission is to

provide the safest,

most efficient

aerospace system

in the world.


www.faa.gov/uas


What is a UAS?• A UAS is a system:

1. Unmanned Aircraft

2. Ground Control Station

3. Command & Control Link(s)

• Also known as:– Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

(UAV)

– Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)

– RC Model Aircraft

– Drone

Communication


www.faa.gov/uas


The National Airspace System (NAS)

• U.S. airspace is public space– 49 U.S.C. §40103(a)(1)

• UAS are “aircraft” subject to regulation– An aircraft is any device used, or intended to be used, for

flight

– 49 U.S.C. §40102(a)(6)

– 14 CFR 1.1

– PL 112-95 §331, §336

• UAS flown outdoors operate in the National

Airspace System (NAS)


www.faa.gov/uas


The Three A’s of Flying an Aircraft

Aircraft

AirmanAuthorization

• Fundamental

requirements to fly an

aircraft in the NAS

• Form the basis for

understanding today’s

aviation rules


www.faa.gov/uas


Understanding Airspace

• Operations in Class G do not require ATC authorization

• Operations in Class B, C, D & Class E surface areas require

prior authorization


www.faa.gov/uas


How Will You Operate?

• Start with the end in mind

– Use Cases

– What do you want your UAS to do for you? What can be

approved? Under what circumstances?

• Learn about the legal frameworks

– Public: Title 49 U.S.C. §§ 40102(a)(41) and 40125

– Civil: Part 107, Section 333, Experimental, Type Certificated

• Comply with applicable flight rules


www.faa.gov/uas


How to Get Started as a Part 107

Operator• Can fly now under Part 107 but must fully comply.

• If waivers to regulations are needed, complete the online waiver request, carefully and thoroughly addressing the Waiver Safety Explanation Guidelines. – NOTE: Many waiver requests are denied due to inadequate information,

overly optimistic assumptions about technology, and failure to demonstrate EQUAL or BETTER level of safety as required in the guidelines, please read the guidelines carefully.

• Must request authorization online to operate in Class B,C,D, and E surface area controlled airspace.

• Cannot fly under combo Part 107 and PAO COA. Mission is flown under one or the other set of rules.


www.faa.gov/uas


Public Aircraft49 USC 40102 (a) (41)

Public Aircraft:• An aircraft owned by the [US] Government and operated by any

person for purposes related to crew training, equipment

development, or demonstration, except as provided in section

40125(b).

• An aircraft owned and operated by the government of a State, the

District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States

or a political subdivision of one of these governments, except

as provided in section 40125(b).

• An aircraft exclusively leased for at least 90 continuous days by

the government of a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or

possession of the United States or a political subdivision of one

of these governments, except as provided in section 40125(b).

*portions omitted for presentation purposes, see AC 00-1.1A for complete info


www.faa.gov/uas


Public Aircraft Leases & the SAR

clause of 49 USC § 40125• Search and Rescue Purposes.— An aircraft described in section

40102(a)(41)(D) that is not exclusively leased for at least 90

continuous days by the government of a State, the District of

Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States or a

political subdivision of 1 of those governments, qualifies as a public

aircraft if the Administrator determines that—

o there are extraordinary circumstances;

o the aircraft will be used for the performance of search and

rescue missions;

o a community would not otherwise have access to search and

rescue services; and

o a government entity demonstrates that granting the waiver is

necessary to prevent an undue economic burden on that

government.

SAR is the ONLY exception to the 90 day lease clause of 49 USC 40102


www.faa.gov/uas


How to Get Started as a Public

Aircraft Operator

• Obtain Public Declaration Letter (PDL) from City,

County, State Attorney

– Send copy of PDL to FAA

• Obtain User ID and password for online Public COA

application from FAA

– PDL must be accepted by FAA Legal first

• Complete COA application online

– Application must address if COA is for blanket area or

jurisdiction


www.faa.gov/uas


Public Aircraft OperationsCertificate of Authorization (COA)

• Blanket (U.S. Airspace) Area COA− Operations in Class G, day and night

− Typically processed in 10 business days

• Jurisdictional (Area Boundary) COA− Defines a specific operating area where UAS

operations may take place (size of city, county, state) needs to be coordinated with Flight Standards and Air Traffic

− Processing time 60 business days or more

• Special Government Interest (Emergency COA)− Requires approved active COA

− Enables operations outside of approved COA provisions or operations within TFR

− Processing approval within 60 minutes


www.faa.gov/uas


Governmental Function49 USC §40125

Governmental function:an activity undertaken by a government, such as national defense,

intelligence missions, firefighting, search and rescue, law

enforcement, […], aeronautical research, or biological or

geological resource management.

• Determined on a flight by flight basis

• Any flight not deemed a governmental function by the FAA is

considered a civil flight

• Not all flights by a public entity meet the governmental function

requirement and would therefore have to be flown under civil

rules

• Contact the FAA’s General Counsel Office for a legal

interpretation when in doubt


www.faa.gov/uas


Public or Part 107 Operations

Do you have a Remote

Pilot Certificate?

Does the COA meet your

operational needs?

No Is your mission a “governmental

function” per the Statutes?

Do you qualify as a PAO per the

Statutes?

Yes

Yes

Do you have a COA?

PAO

Yes

Yes

Part 107

Yes

No

No


www.faa.gov/uas


Emergency Public Safety Operations

Already flying under Part 107 or a COA

Not flying in a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)

Not flying in controlled airspace

If you cannot check all of these boxes, call the FAA System

Operations Support Center (SOSC) at 202-267-8276

You will need to provide information about your proposed flight, including:• Location (lat/long) and maximum altitude

• Your Part 107 remote pilot certificate number or COA information

• Take-off and landing times

• The nature of the mission, and who is being supported


www.faa.gov/uas


Online UAS Registration

• Commercial or public aircraft operators flying under

part 107 or a public COA must register online as a

“non-modeler”– You will need to provide an email address, physical address, and the

make, model, and serial number (if available) of each sUAS

• UAS over 55 lbs. must use the paper-based registration process


www.faa.gov/uas


4-1-1 for 9-1-1Drone Information for Public Safety Personnel

The FAA will host webinars on the 3rd Wednesday of every month to

discuss topics of interest for public safety agencies, including:

• Hot Topics

• Operational considerations (COAs, best practices, etc.)

• Enforcement considerations (case studies and legal issues)

• FAQs or Q&A

Register for the webinar at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2990819347423939331

After completing registration, you will receive a confirmation email

containing information about joining the webinar.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2990819347423939331


www.faa.gov/uas


Handy Tools and References

• B4UFly App: https://www.faa.gov/uas/where_to_fly/b4ufly/

• Part 107 Waivers: https://www.faa.gov/uas/request_waiver/

• NOTAM Entry: https://www.1800wxbrief.com/Website/uoa

Help with Operations

• AC 00-1.1A: Public Aircraft Operations

• 14 CFR Part 107: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

• AC 107-2: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)

• Title 49 U.S.C. §§ 40102(a)(41) and 40125

Understanding Regulations

• FAA UAS Webpage: https://www.faa.gov/uas/General

Information

• Sys Ops Sec: (202) 267-8276, [email protected] Emergency Operations

https://www.faa.gov/uas/where_to_fly/b4ufly/

https://www.faa.gov/uas/request_waiver/

https://www.1800wxbrief.com/Website/uoa

https://www.faa.gov/uas/


www.faa.gov/uas


Questions?

For questions about operations contact the

Help Desk: [email protected] or 844-FLYMYUA

For questions about law enforcement issues

contact [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for Public Safety · Presented to: Federal Fire Working Group Presented by: John Meehan, FAA UAS Integration Office Date: 13 November 2017 Unmanned