Law Enforcement UAS Concept of Operations US Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations DRAFT

Issues- LEI Direct contact with ATC may not always be possible. Direct contact with ATC may not always be possible. Options: cell phone, sat phone, hand held radio or indirect via relayOptions: cell phone, sat phone, hand held radio or indirect via relay Law Enforcement & Investigations (LEI) missions will require immediate (6 hours to 24 hours) COA submission and approval. Law Enforcement & Investigations (LEI) missions will require immediate (6 hours to 24 hours) COA submission and approval. Never know where or when the criminal activity will occur.Never know where or when the criminal activity will occur. LEI missions may require some flight in IMC (smoke) and at night. LEI missions may require some flight in IMC (smoke) and at night. Line of sight observation would be intermittentLine of sight observation would be intermittent

Mission Overview- LEI USFS LEI has enforcement and investigation responsibility for 193 million acres of forest and grasslands in 42 states and 1 territory USFS LEI has enforcement and investigation responsibility for 193 million acres of forest and grasslands in 42 states and 1 territory LEI officers and agents often need to be able to gather ISR on criminal activities and SAR missions LEI officers and agents often need to be able to gather ISR on criminal activities and SAR missions

Mission Purpose- LEI Collect real-time photo/ video color/IR data and transmit to Law Enforcement Officers/Special Agents Collect real-time photo/ video color/IR data and transmit to Law Enforcement Officers/Special Agents LEI incident conditions can be mountainous with heavy vegetation LEI incident conditions can be mountainous with heavy vegetation Provide another level of officer safety, situational awareness and ability to find and avoid hazardous conditions/persons. Provide another level of officer safety, situational awareness and ability to find and avoid hazardous conditions/persons.

Concept Overview- LEI The Forest Service intends to utilize small UAS for tactical intelligence collection on criminal investigations, fugitive and SAR missions The Forest Service intends to utilize small UAS for tactical intelligence collection on criminal investigations, fugitive and SAR missions UAS would be used by Law Enforcement Officers/Special Agents to provide real- time photo/video and infrared imagery pro-actively (e.g. raid planning and drug site reconnaissance) and also reactively (e.g. fugitive or search and rescue missions) UAS would be used by Law Enforcement Officers/Special Agents to provide real- time photo/video and infrared imagery pro-actively (e.g. raid planning and drug site reconnaissance) and also reactively (e.g. fugitive or search and rescue missions)

COA Process- LEI Submit “original” COA with baseline information Submit “original” COA with baseline information When a LE Incident occurs, request an emergency COA with location, date/time, and other changes When a LE Incident occurs, request an emergency COA with location, date/time, and other changes

What’s Different Original COA Proponent Proponent POC POC Operational Description Operational Description System Description System Description Performance Performance Airworthiness Airworthiness Procedures Procedures Avionics/ Eq. Avionics/ Eq. Lights Lights Spectrum Spectrum ATC comm ATC comm Visual Surveillance Visual Surveillance Flight Ops Area/ Plan Flight Ops Area/ Plan Flight Crew Flight Crew Observers Observers Special Circumstances Special Circumstances Emergency COA Changes Proponent- No Change Proponent- No Change POC- No Change POC- No Change Operational Description- Night ops & operational area and date/time Operational Description- Night ops & operational area and date/time System Description- No Change System Description- No Change Performance- No Change Performance- No Change Airworthiness- No Change Airworthiness- No Change Procedures- No Change Procedures- No Change Avionics/ Eq.- No Change Avionics/ Eq.- No Change Lights- No Change Lights- No Change Spectrum- No Change Spectrum- No Change ATC comm- Indirect via phone or radio ATC comm- Indirect via phone or radio Visual Surveillance- Intermittent based on conditions and terrain Visual Surveillance- Intermittent based on conditions and terrain Flight Ops Area/ Plan- Various locations in TFR Flight Ops Area/ Plan- Various locations in TFR Flight Crew- No Change Flight Crew- No Change Observers- No Change Observers- No Change Special Circumstances- all flight < 1000’, Class G, Special Circumstances- all flight < 1000’, Class G,

Sky Seer System Description- LEI The Octatron SkySeer is an autonomous, computer controlled unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for easy transport and launch. It is designed and manufactured by Octatron, Incorporated of LaVerne, CA USA. The Octatron SkySeer is an autonomous, computer controlled unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for easy transport and launch. It is designed and manufactured by Octatron, Incorporated of LaVerne, CA USA. Wingspan: 6.5' Weight: lbs Endurance: 45 to 60 min. at cruise of 23 mph

Sky Seer System Description- LEI Intended for short-range operations, the electric-powered SkySeer resembles a RC airplane or two-meter glider. Once unfolded from its storage tube and its electronics initialized, the SkySeer is then hand-launched by its operator. All of the UAV’s basic flight functions are handled by GPS and manual control, including landings. It is also capable of autonomous takeoffs and landings. Range is approximately two miles/3.2km and is extendable via Octatron's NetWeaver interface. It is normally flown at 250 AGL. Intended for short-range operations, the electric-powered SkySeer resembles a RC airplane or two-meter glider. Once unfolded from its storage tube and its electronics initialized, the SkySeer is then hand-launched by its operator. All of the UAV’s basic flight functions are handled by GPS and manual control, including landings. It is also capable of autonomous takeoffs and landings. Range is approximately two miles/3.2km and is extendable via Octatron's NetWeaver interface. It is normally flown at 250 AGL. Video interface is in real time and allows the operator to literally see what the UAV sees and to record it as such. The ground station's recorder can store up to twenty hours of high-quality MPEG-2 format video which can then be transferred to DVD or Macromedia Flash. Video interface is in real time and allows the operator to literally see what the UAV sees and to record it as such. The ground station's recorder can store up to twenty hours of high-quality MPEG-2 format video which can then be transferred to DVD or Macromedia Flash.

LEI- Mission #1 An LEI supervisor would determine the need to see over the trees, through vegetation, down a canyon etc. An LEI supervisor would determine the need to see over the trees, through vegetation, down a canyon etc. Hand launch the UAS, control the UAS from that location as well as receive data from the cameras and make tactical decisions based on the data. Hand launch the UAS, control the UAS from that location as well as receive data from the cameras and make tactical decisions based on the data.

Mission Safety Pilots would meet 08-01, Operations not requiring a pilot certificate Pilots would meet 08-01, Operations not requiring a pilot certificate Radio communication with the pilot Radio communication with the pilot Special airworthiness certificate or airworthiness statement Special airworthiness certificate or airworthiness statement Airspace - within TFR –Class G typically 250 but <400AGL Airspace - within TFR –Class G typically 250 but <400AGL Additional to TFR could be “UAS operations at 1000 ft. or below”Additional to TFR could be “UAS operations at 1000 ft. or below” Utilize LEI UAS Operational Plan Utilize LEI UAS Operational Plan

The Mission Small, 4 lb. UAS Small, 4 lb. UAS Class G airspace Class G airspace Fly within 14 CFR (a) (2) TFRs ordered specifically for the LE incident. Fly within 14 CFR (a) (2) TFRs ordered specifically for the LE incident. Flight Level < 400 ft. Flight Level < 400 ft. Airworthiness Statement/Certificate Airworthiness Statement/Certificate

Agency UAS Policy Recently updated Agency Aviation Manual to include UAS operations. Recently updated Agency Aviation Manual to include UAS operations. UAS are considered the same as manned aircraft regarding- aircraft, inspections, maintenance, training, acquisition and reporting UAS are considered the same as manned aircraft regarding- aircraft, inspections, maintenance, training, acquisition and reporting All acquisitions will have a manufacturer’s special airworthiness certificate or airworthiness certificate All acquisitions will have a manufacturer’s special airworthiness certificate or airworthiness certificate USFS UAS operations will comply with FAA policy (08-01) and/ or regulations USFS UAS operations will comply with FAA policy (08-01) and/ or regulations Develop an LEI UAS Operational Plan Develop an LEI UAS Operational Plan

Operations Description Fly within TFRs in all 50 states Fly within TFRs in all 50 states Class G airspace Class G airspace Primarily VFR, but some IMC (night) Primarily VFR, but some IMC (night) <400 ft. flight level <400 ft. flight level DRAFT

Benefits Collect flight data on visual characteristics, visibility, etc. Collect flight data on visual characteristics, visibility, etc. Publish or submit to FAA Publish or submit to FAA Increased officer safety Increased officer safety

2009 COA issued for LE Investigation within US. COA issued for LE Investigation within US. LE Project team operates UAS on reconnaissance within COA provisions LE Project team operates UAS on reconnaissance within COA provisions Submit feedback and data to FAA post-incident Submit feedback and data to FAA post-incident