Drones for Staff, Journalism, and Facilities Management Brandon Stark, Director Unmanned Aircraft System Safety Center of Excellence University of California

A Drone’s Potential on Campus Staff may have a variety of reasons to employ a UAS as a way to Serve as a tool for training staff in safe UAS operation Report news via drone in ways that were previously not possible Inspect areas that are conventionally difficult to reach Be used by first responders on campus

Facility Management Inspection of areas that are conventionally difficult to reach with people will reduce the risk to the inspectors by using a UAS as a replacement. A UAS can go into hazardous areas to assess potential dangers for a crew before they enter.

Journalism A UAS can aid in the reporting of news by filming subject matter with angles and movements that were previously impossible for a journalist to perform. Drone Filming also has the potential to reduce costs as the entire platform can cost the same as just the camera traditionally.

First Responders University first responders may find the use of a UAS essential in high risk situation or where rapid hazard identification is critical. By replacing people with drones there is less risk to the first responders on the scene.

Training Programs Having operators that are both confident and competent in their abilities will be better pilots for the University. Training programs help the entire campus community by Reducing the risk a drone poses by mitigating pilot error Giving pilots experience in responding to problems correctly

Following the Law All UAS flights by University staff for official University business is not recreational. It is a commercial operation and requires adherence to the FAA’s Part 107 on small UAS. Details in a separate presentations

Part 107 and What it Means There are restrictions on the UAS, such as A 100mph top speed 55lbs weight limit Having the UAS registered with the FAA. Not carrying hazardous materials or weapons

Part 107 and What it Means Other restrictions concern the operation, including A 400ft maximum height Reckless flight stipulations Not flying over people Staying within visual range Having a sUAS license. Not flying past civil twilight

UC UAS Insurance UC has an Unmanned Aircraft Liability policy with $5M limit, including $1M Personal Injury sublimit. Automatic coverage for aircraft Under 55 lbs Flown within line of sight Flown under 400 ft For official UC activities All other operations must be reported to and approved by the underwriter in order to be covered

UC UAS Insurance UC Insurance only covers UC-owned and registered equipment Does not automatically cover personally owned vehicles used for UC activities A personally-owned UAS intended for UC activities must be reported to and approved by the underwriter in order to be covered

“Legal” ≠ “Safe” Just because you follow the letter of the law does not mean that you are guaranteed to be safe

UAS Safety & Oversight

Safety and Risk Management In every operation ask: What is considered safe? How can we ensure low risk and safety? Must keep track of UAS activity on the campuses

UAS Safety Management System Safety Policies Policies establish the organizational hierarchy and responsibilities at each level. They establish oversight requirements and processes to meet safety goals Safety Risk Management Provides a workflow for a formal process to describe the system, identify hazards, assess risk, and control/minimize risk. Safety Assurance Enable the evaluation of the effectiveness of risk management strategies and ensure compliance with other oversight entities, including the FAA, the Center, and OPRM. Safety Promotion Educational outreach on UAS policies and FAA regulations, training on UAS Risk Management and Safety Assurance. Developing a safety culture at all levels of UAS operations. Details in a separate presentations

Lack of oversight puts the University at significant and unnecessary risk

How to provide oversight?

Three Steps to Provide Oversight Coordinate to register all aircraft in the UC system Coordinate prior to flights Keep track and report flights

Campus Point of Contact Campuses should decide on what works best for them Can handle registrations, flight requests or reporting if desired UAS Safety is building an online toolset for all three free-of- charge for all campuses. Campuses may implement their own if they would prefer

What does safe mean for a drone?

Safety Safety is not one challenge The goal is to minimize a multitude of risks

Safety at the Aircraft Link Things that can go wrong at the aircraft link Poor maintenance Unknown condition of components Incorrect software or configurations Mitigation Strategies Preflight Checklists Detailed records and maintenance logs

Safety at the Environment Link Things that can go wrong at the environment link Unsuitable weather conditions Other air traffic Hazards to people and property Mitigation Strategies Weather/Airspace Assessments as part of the preflight procedures Ensuring suitable flying locations

Safety at the Human Link Human error contributes to the majority of UAS accidents! All participants should know what's going on Brief everyone on all details Pilots should have sufficient training

Summary of Mitigation Strategies All pilots and ground crews are briefed before each flight Pilots must have sufficient training Preflight procedures should include Weather Assessment Airspace Assessment Aircraft Assessment/Preflight Checklist Operate only in open/clear areas Follow-up after each operation with Flight records Maintenance records

Best Practices to Be Prepared Always bring a fire extinguisher and/or a bucket of sand as appropriate Always bring a first aid kit Never fly over people Never fly in a manner that creates a hazard to people or property

The Expectation of Privacy

Privacy Working with UAS on campus requires not only understanding safety, but also privacy. Pilots should consider the expectation of privacy that people in the area have. Operators should follow the privacy best practices issued by the University. Pilots should also have a privacy policy concerning their capture of images.

Best Practices DO be considerate of other people’s privacy concerns DO make a reasonable effort to provide prior notice DO ensure the security of any sored data Do create and publish a privacy policy DO NOT use a UAS for unapproved recording DO NOT fly over private property without permission DO NOT intentionally cause harm DO NOT share data without a reasonable effort to de- identify nonconsenting parties

Privacy and News While news reporting does not require waivers to be signed it is still important to have a privacy policy and a code of ethics to protect individuals Respect people that choose not to be filmed and avoid harassing behavior Do not keep data longer than necessary for the approved project

Operation Obtain permission from the University prior to flying This requires having a registered drone and a sUAS license Designate an area of operation and estimated altitude so people know where you will be Identify risks and hazards Make a plan on how to avoid and handle emergencies

What can you do to make sure your official campus UAS flights are legal and safe?

Campus Specific Requirements Campuses can create programs that determine the requirements to fly under their guidance Including training required prior to flight UAS air worthiness inspection Additional knowledge testing

Visual Observers Fulfils the see and avoid requirement Allows for FPV operation Cannot be “daisy-chained” Does not need any additional licenses

Be aware of the Hidden Danger of Drones Beyond Line of Sight Large drones Tethered Systems Wind layers

For the Future Regulations will change The number and types of pilots will be different The need for safety and privacy will evolve

Creating a Lasting System It is important to create a adaptable foundation for change Authorizing flights and pilots will depend on new qualifications Policies beyond the scope of the law will need to be created to address certain issues

Safety is the Primary Concern Visual observers can aid in safe operation Fly only with the correct permissions Have safety measures in place to respond to accidents Log all flights and crashes to a log book

Drones Working for the University The possible roles for drones as part of the University’s equipment allow for a new level of safety and efficiency By establishing a foundation of trained professionals the University will remain current with technology as well as fostering future developments

Questions? Other Presentations: Drones in the UC System Email: bstark2@ucmerced.edu UASSafety@ucmerced.edu http://tinyurl.com/UC-UAS-COE http://uassafety.ucmerced.edu/ Phone: (209) 201 - 2051 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UC.UAS.Safety/ Please sign up for the UC UAS Listserves if you’d like to be kept in the loop of the latest developments Other Presentations: Drones in the UC System UAS Safety Management System SUAS Remote Pilot Certificate Exam Drones for Student Clubs Drones for Researchers