1. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Safety
What to know before you fly

2. About Me!
Nave Land Surveying

3. sUAV
sUAV is a small unmanned aerial vehicle that weight between lbs. and 55 lbs. (25kg)
Classes of sUAV
Fixed wing
Rotor

4. sUAV
These aircraft can be operated as either as a hobbyist or a commercial operator
Both categories fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration
Part RC models - Hobbyist
Part 107 Use for commercial or research
UAV is an aircraft that can be operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft

5. sUAV Main components of UAVs Airframe Controller or control station
Pilot in Command (PIC)
Visual Observer (VO)
Operator

6. What Are the Main Risks with sUAVs?
First and foremost, shared airspace.
To point out the obvious here, aircraft collisions are by the far the most dangerous and worrisome fear when it comes to piloting UAVs.
If a UAV were to say, fly in the restricted airspace of an airport and collide with a plane (or take out one of its engines), there could be serious and fatal consequences.
It’s dangerous, reckless, and the most volatile aspect of publicly operated drones.  
UAV sightings near airports increased 46% from 2016 to 2017.

7. What Are the Main Risks with sUAVs?
Ground collisions are a worry as well.
Most UAVs come in small sizes that would not feasibly kill a human, there are larger UAVs with payloads that could pose a threat to life if the system were to fail and the aircraft were to drop from a high altitude
Failed UAVs dropping from the sky is worrisome any place where there are active people; roads, highways, shelters, shopping malls, and so forth.
Most UAV crashes are due to technical failure of the UAV

8. Additional Risks
Spinning rotors or propellers
Catapult launch
Privacy

9. Commercial and Research use of UAVs
Requires a person to be a certified as UAV operator
14 CFR Part 107
COA
North Carolina has additional requirements and testing
Department of Transportation Aviation Division

10. Safely Flying UAVs - Airspace
Two categories of Airspace
Regulated
Nonregulated
Within these two categories, there are four types
Controlled
Uncontrolled
Special use
Other airspace

11. Safely Flying UAVs - Airspace
Controlled Airspace – term used to cover different classifications of airspace and defined dimensions within which air traffic control (ATC) service is provided
Class B – surface to 10,000 feet MSL (e.g. Los Angeles and Charlotte)
Class C – surface to 4,000 above the airport elevation (AGL) (e.g. Greensboro)
Class D – Surface to 2,500 AGL, control tower
Class E – Airspace below 1,200 to 14,500 MSL

12. Safely Flying UAVs - Airspace

13. Safely Flying UAVs - Airspace
Uncontrolled Airspace – the portion of the airspace that has not been designated as Class A, B, C, D or E.
Class G – Surface to the base of the overlying Class E airspace
Special Use Airspace – designation for airspace in which certain activates must be confined
Prohibited Area
Restricted Areas
Warning Areas
Military Operation Areas
Alert Areas
Controlled Firing Areas

14. Safely Flying UAVs - Airspace

15. Safely Flying UAVs - Airspace
At all times the UAV must be in view of the PIC or VO
Beyond line of sight requires special permits from the FAA
UAVs are restricted to 400 feet above ground level
UAVs must give right of way to all manned aircraft
The UAV PIC must contact and receive permission before flying in controlled airspace
Publish a NOTAM – Notice to airman that informs pilots of the area of operation, time of day and flying heights

16. Safely Flying UAVs - Weather
Weather, such as wind, can have an adverse effect on sUAVs
Down drafts
Cross winds
Variable wind speed at different elevations
Before Flying, the UAV PIC must check the local weather at the site to be flown

17. Safely Flying UAVs - Weather
Aviation Weather Reports are designed to give accurate depiction of current weather conditions
METARs are observations of current surface weather
Example
Time given in UTC

18. Safely Flying UAVs - Weather
Effects of Weather on SUAV Performance
Density Altitude – as the density of the air increases, aircraft performance increases and conversely, as air density decreases, aircraft performance decreases
Effects of Pressure
Effects of Temperature – Increase of temperature decreases density
Effects of Humidity
Primary Performance Factors most affected by performance is take-off and landing, rate of climb, ceiling, payload, range, speed, maneuverability, stability and fuel economy

19. Safely Flying UAVs - Weather
Effects of Obstructions on Wind – obstructions on the ground affect to the flow of wind
Unseen danger

20. Safely Flying UAVs - Weather
Low-Level Wind Shear – a sudden, drastic change in wind speed and/or direction
Violate updrafts or downdrafts
Can occur at any altitude
Low-level wind shear is especially hazardous due to the proximity of the aircraft to the ground
Common associated with a passing front, thunderstorms, temperature inversions and strong upper level winds

21. Safely Flying UAVs - Loading
The remote pilot in charge should verify the aircraft is correctly loaded by determining the weight and balance condition of the aircraft
Compliance with the manufactory's weight and balance limits is critical to flight safety
Maximum gross takeoff weight may not always allow for safe takeoff
Weight changes during the flight have a direct effect on aircraft performance

22. Safely Flying UAVs - Loading
Stability is the inherent quality of an aircraft to correct for conditions that may disturb its equilibrium
Maneuverability
Controllability
Weight and Balance – compliance with the weight and balance limits of any aircraft is critical to flight safety
Operations above the maximum weight may compromise the structural integrity of an aircraft
Operations with the center of gravity outside the approved limits result in control difficulties

23. Safely Flying UAVs – Emergency Procedures
An inflight emergency is usually unexpected and unforeseen event
Serious consequences for an unprepared remote pilot
During an emergency a remote pilot is permitted to deviate from any part of the federal regulations found in Part 107
When a remote pilot deviates from a rule due to an emergency, the remote pilot will report the emergency if asked to do so by the FAA

24. Safely Flying UAVs – Emergency Procedures
The remote pilot in charge is responsible for the safe operation of the sUVA at all times
A remote pilot in charge must ensure that the aircraft is in a safe operating condition before flight
Ensure that there are no hazards to persons or property
Require all crew members be briefed on the operation and emergency procedures

25. Physiological Factors Affecting Pilot Performance
14 CFR Part 107 does not allow operation of sUAV if the remote PIC, the person manipulating the controls or the visual observer (VO) is unable to safely carry out their responsibilities
Alcohol and drugs are known to impair judgement
Over the counter drugs such as antihistamines and decongestants may cause drowsiness

26. Physiological Factors Affecting Pilot Performance
Part 107 prohibits the following:
Consummation of alcohol within the preceding 8 hours
Is under the influence of alcohol
Has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or higher
Is using a drug that affects the person’s mental or physical capabilities

27. Physiological Factors Affecting Pilot Performance
Medical factors
Hyperventilation
Stress
Fatigue
Dehydration
Heatstroke
Effects of drugs and alcohol

28. Safely Flying UAVs – Preflight Inspection
Before each flight, the PIC should perform a preflight inspection of the UAV to ensure it is a condition for safe flight
Should be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s inspection procedures
All inspections should be recorded in the aircraft records
Repairs
Modifications
Overhauls
Time in service

29. Safely Flying UAVs – Preflight Inspection
Check Sectional Aeronautical Charts for controlled airspace
Uses an app such as B4UFly to check for restricted airspace
Consult the FAA Chart Supplement to find radio frequencies used by local air traffic controllers and manned aircraft

30. Accident Reporting
The remote PIC must report an sUAS accident to the FAA, within 10 days of the operation, if any of the following thresholds are met:
Serious injury to any person or any loss of consciousness
Damage to any property, other than the sUAS, if the cost is greater than $500 to repair or replace the property (whichever is lower).
Example – a small UA damages property of which the fair market value is $200, and it would cost $600 to repair the damages. Because the fair market value is below $500, this accident is not required to be reported.

31. FAA Inspection
You must make available to the FAA, upon request, the sUAS for inspection or testing
In addition, you must verify before flight that all required documents are physically or electronically available
Pilot certificate
Aircraft registration
Any necessary waivers or exemptions
Other documents related to the operation

32. sUAS Registration
Most sUAS must be registered with the FAA prior to operation in the National Airspace
Greater than 0.55 lbs.
Aircraft must be marked with the unique identifier number
Legible and durable
Visible or accessible

33. Carriage of Hazardous Material
sUAS may not carry hazardous material
Hazardous material is defined as substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined is capable of posing a unreasonable risk to health, safety and property when transported in commerce

34. Daylight Operations Part 107 prohibits operation of sUAS at night
Defined as the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight
In the contiguous United States, evening civil twilight is the period of sunset until 30 minutes after sunset

35. Visual Line of Sight
The sUAS must remain within the LOS of flight crewmembers.
VLOS means the flight crewmembers is capable of seeing the aircraft with vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses
Crewmembers must be able to see the aircraft at all times during flight

36. Operating Limitations
The sUAS must be operated in accordance with the following:
Cannot be flown faster than a ground speed of 87 knots (100 miles per hour)
Cannot be flown higher than 400 feet above the ground (AGL)
Unless flown within 400 foot radius of a structure and not flown higher than 400 feet above the structure
Crewmembers must operate within the following limitations
Minimum visibility, as observed from the location of the control station, must be no less than 3 statute miles
Minimum distance from clouds must be no less than 500 feet below a cloud and 2,000 feet horizontal from the cloud

37. Right of Way Rules
Know the location and flight path of your UAV at all times
Be aware of other aircraft, persons and property in the vicinity of the operating area
Be able to maneuver the sUAS to avoid collision and prevent other aircraft from having to take evasive action

38. NO Operation Over People
You may not operate a sUAS directly over another person, unless that person is:
Directly involved in the operation
Within safe cover
The PIC should employ a strategy to avoid flying over people
Select an operation area that is sparsely populated
If operating in a populated area make a plan to keep non-participants clear

39. Operation from a Moving Vehicle or Aircraft
Part 107 permits operation of sUAS from a moving land or water borne vehicle over sparsely populated areas
Operations from an aircraft is prohibited

40. Questions???