WILDFIRE UAS Concept of Operations US Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management DRAFT

Introduction The Forest Service intends to utilize small UAS for tactical intelligence collection on wildland fires. UAS would be used by fireline supervisors to provide real-time photo/video and infrared imagery in tactical situations. UAS would be used by incident commanders to provide long endurance real-time intel and communication for a wildland fire.

Mission Objectives Collect real-time photo/ video color/IR data and transmit to tactical decision makers. Fireline conditions are most often mountainous, heavy vegetation and smoky low visibility situations, which make it difficult to maintain situational awareness of a fire’s location, fire hazards, terrain features and other inherent fire hazards. Provide another level of fireline safety and ability to find and avoid hazards.

COA Process Submit “original” COA with baseline information When a wild fire occurs, request an emergency COA with location, date/time, and other changes

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

System Description Cyberbug Description SkySeer Description

System Description Raven Vector P Electric Helicopter Golden-eye 80 Cyberblimp DRAFT

Mission #1 A fire supervisor would determine the need to see over the trees, through smoke or down a canyon. 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 #2 Incident Commander orders UAS for long endurance intel flight over remote fire area. UAS provides communication link between IC and ground resources UAS provides real-time day infrared video of fire behavior to IC Color video provides fire fuels information for next operational planning cycle UAS can fly during all other fire aviation flights including helicopter and large airtanker operations.

Mission Safety Pilots would meet 08-01, Operations not requiring a pilot certificate Radio communication with the pilot Special airworthiness certificate or airworthiness statement Airspace- within fire TFR –Additional to TFR could be “UAS operations at 1000 ft. or below”

The Mission Small UAS Class G airspace Fly within 14 CFR (a) (2) TFRs ordered specifically for the wildland fire. Flight Level < 1000 ft. High visibility aircraft (paint and/or lights if capable) Airworthiness Certificate Etc.

Agency UAS Policy 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 All acquisitions will has a manufacturer’s special airworthiness certificate or airworthiness certificate USFS UAS operations will comply with FAA policy (08-01) and/ or regulations

Operations Description Fly within fire TFRs in all 50 states Class G airspace Primarily VFR, but some IMC (smoke & night) <1000 ft. flight level DRAFT

Benefits Collect flight data on visual characteristics, visibility, etc. Publish or submit to FAA Increased situational awareness and safety factor for fireline resources

2009 COA issued for wildland fire within US. Project team operates UAS on fire within COA provisions Submit feedback and data to FAA post fire season 2009

2010 Train & qualify limited number of fireline crews to use UAS Implement Mission #2 on fire. DRAFT