Sun N’ Fun

31 March 2011

Lakeland, Florida

Alan Frazier, Assistant ProfessorJohn D. Odegard School of Aerospace SciencesUniversity of North Dakota

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems:Threat or Asset to General Aviation?

Presenter’s Background

-FAA Airline Transport Pilot*Airplanes (single and multi), helicopters, gliders*CFII. FAA FAAST Team Advisor

-Former Officer-in Charge, Glendale PD Air Support Unit

-Assistant Professor, UND Aerospace

-31 year law enforcement veteran*2 years Smyrna PD (TN)*28 years Glendale PD (CA)*Current Grand Forks (ND) Deputy

Presentation Content-Overview of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS)

-Potential applications of sUAS

-Pros and Cons of sUAS

-FAA Certificate of Waiver of Authorization (COA) Process

-Future of sUAS

“The idea of pilots flying remotely has been around for a long time. And it is, I truly believe, the way of the future. But where we are, on numerous fronts, they’re not ready for open access to the NAS (National Airspace System)…”

J. Randolph Babbitt FAA Administrator 18 November 2009 Scottsdale, AZ

“Al, I’m on my third deployment and the closest of come to buying the farm is near misses with Predator UAVs…”

Capt. Nathan Boone, USAF Co-Pilot AC-130 “Spectre” Gunship

4th Special Operations Squadron(My son-in-law)

What are “Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems” ?

• Remotely controlled airplanes and helicopters

• Less than 55 lbs gross weight (ARC* recommendation)

• Less than 87 knots top speed (ARC recommendation)

• Capable of downlinking data– Still pictures– Video– FLIR– Environmental sampling

*Aviation Rulemaking Committee

Draganflyer X6• Specifications:

– Weight: 2.2 lbs.– Max speed: 30 mph– Range: 4.4 miles– Operating altitudes: 100-500’ AGL(service ceiling 14,000’)– Length: 33”– Width: 36”– Height: 10”

• Operational Details:– 6 rotor helicopter– Endurance: 25-30 mins– Payloads: max 18 oz. to include still, video and IR camera6– Cost: Approx. $45,000 (LE system including A/C, base station and cameras)

Draganflyer X6 Animation

• Aerovironment

Raven

Aerovironment Raven• Specifications:

– Weight: 4.2 lbs– Max speed: 50 mph– Range: 4.4 miles– Operating altitudes: 100-500’ AGL(service ceiling 14,000’)– Length: 3’– Wingspan: 4.5’

• Operational Details:– Hand launched– Endurance: 60-90 mins (rechargeable battery); 80-110 mins (single use battery)– Payloads: Still and video cameras (HD and IR). HAZMAT “sniffer” pod– Cost: Approx. $175,000 (System including 3 aircraft and control station)

Aerovironment Raven Video

Aerovironment Wasp Video

Pros and Cons• Pros

– Cost-effective aerial platform for all users– Enhancement of public safety (fire and police applications)

• Cons– Potential for 4th amendment violations– Potential for accidents

• Mid airs with manned aircraft• Collision with persons or property on the surface

– Potential for conflict with air traffic

Law Enforcement sUAS Applications– Routine response to calls for service

• Crimes in progress• Alarm calls• Searches for persons• Accident and crime scene photography

– Special operations• Crowd and traffic control at special events• Pre-raid reconnaissance and intelligence gathering• Marijuana eradication field grid searches• Disaster assessment• Fixed location covert surveillances• Hazmat and radiological sampling/monitoring

One Old Cop’s Vision for LE UAS• Routine Deployment

– Patrol officers cross-trained as UAS operators– UAS stored in patrol vehicle– On-duty UAS operator responds to incident and evaluates– Launches and operates UAS if appropriate– Available to handle non-UAS calls

• Special Operations Deployment– Special operations officers trained as UAS operators– Or, patrol UAS operator detailed to assist SWAT– Covert surveillances– Pre-raid and real-time raid reconnaissance– Disaster surveillance and relief

Civilian sUAS Applications– Government Agencies

• Fire scene coordination• Public works projects• Code enforcement• Wildlife research and surveys

– General public• Commercial photography• Real estate analysis and advertising• Mapping • Loss prevention monitoring• News media coverage• Construction project tracking

Current Issues• FAA has designated all UAS as “aircraft”

– Currently no “UAS specific” FARs– UAS must comply with existing FARs

• Limited deployment of UAS by public safety– U.S. Customs and Border Protection Predators– Texas Department of Public Safety Aerovironment Wasp– Mesa County, CO Sheriff’s Draganflyer X6– Miami/Dade County, FL Honeywell MAV– Grand Forks, ND Draganflyer X6 and AV Raven

• Must be operated in compliance with COA

What’s the bottom line?• What is a COA?

– FAA “Certificate of Authorization or Waiver”

• Can civilians operate UAS?– Yes, and no….– FAA AC 91-57 “Model Aircraft Operating Standards”

• Less than 400’ AGL • If within 3 miles of airport notify “Airport Operator” Control Tower or FSS• Can only be operated as a “hobby” under this direction

– Otherwise, requires special airworthiness certificate• Only granted for research and training

• Can LE operate UAS?– Yes, with a COA

Certificate of Authorization (COA) Process

• Inability to “see and avoid” other aircraft requires waiver of compliance with FARs.– All outdoor UAS operations not in restricted areas must have COA– Only public agencies eligible for COA issuance

• COA applications submitted online to FAA– FAA Air Traffic Organization (ATO)– FAA Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO)

COA Process Steps

• Establish online COA application account with FAA– http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/

systemops/aaim/organizations/uas/coa/– https://ioeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/Welcome.jsp.

• Research potential COA location– Sparsely populated areas only– FAA has defined this as “outside yellow areas on sectional chart”…

• Complete online application including:– Description of airframe– Self-certification of airworthiness– Detailed description of operation

• U.S. DOJ lobbying FAA for relief

– Daytime VFR operation of sUAS by law enforcement agencies

• Less than 15 pound gross weight• Less than 37 knots max speed• Less than 400’ agl maximum operating altitude• Operators complete standardized sUAS specific ground training• Operators complete manufacturer provided flight training• Aircraft meet ASTM standard (to be established)• Agencies share data with FAA

COA Process Steps

• Current COA review time is approx 3-6 months

• Grand Forks, ND Model– Identify potential deployment locations based on feedback from patrol personnel and

regional drug task force personnel.– Apply for COAs and hold them “in reserve”

• Mesa County, CO Model– Specify entire County– Assurance that LE will control area under UAS flight– Notification to FAA of UAS deployment

UAS Collision Avoidance

• Small UAS: Primarily “see and avoid”– COAs require NOTAM issuance 48-72 hours prior to ops– UAS Operator and Observers visually scanning for traffic

• Large UAS under positive IFR control– Climb to flight levels in TFR and then proceed IFR

• ADS-B and co-phased radar separation systems research on-going

Documents you should review

• FAA Advisory Circular AC-91-57

• Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Aviation Rulemaking Committee Report– FAA Committee with 20 members

• LE represented by Mike O’Shea (DOJ) and Don Shinnamon (IACP and Port St. Lucie (FL) PD)• First meeting May 2008. Report issued 1 April 2009

• Final FAA rules due “2012”

Future of sUAS• 80% of over 19,000 U.S. LE agencies have less than 100

officers

• Most of these agencies simply cannot afford airborne LE

• sUAS provides a very cost effective alternative

• Large agencies with airborne LE units can work smarter and more efficiently with sUAS

Future of sUAS• Probable adoption of DOJ recommendations or similar

compromise

• Increase in purchase and deployment of sUAS by law enforcement agencies

• Business opportunities fuel increase in technology and affordability of sUAS

• Introduction of courts to sUAS 4th Amendment issues

Future of sUAS• Expansion of authorized users to include non-public safety

governmental agencies.

• Expansion of users to include civilians for commercial purposes.

• Full integration of sUAS into airspace system through utilization of ADS-B or other separation technology.

Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences-Founded in 1967 with 2 aircraft-Currently:

*5 departments including Aviation*Aviation Department employs 24 dedicated professors including 5 attorneys, 230 flight instructors, and a physician.*135 aircraft including fixed wing, helicopters and UAS*Department logs over 130,000 flight hours annually *26 flight simulators including a Level 3 Canadair Regional Jet*Altitude chamber and spatial disorientation simulator*1100 aviation students*1st, and only, UAS bachelors degree program*Graduates over 250 commercial pilots annually

UAS Center of Excellence

-Division of Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences-Founded in 1995-24 employees, 12 with PhD Degrees-Currently operating 6 different UAS vehicles-Supporting Red River Regional Air Support Unit UAS

Project*12 North Dakota and Minnesota law enforcement agencies*Hope to deploy manned and unmanned aircraft

Contact Information

Alan Frazier, Assistant ProfessorJohn D. Odegard School of Aerospace SciencesUniversity of North Dakota3980 Campus Road, Stop 9007Grand Forks, ND 58202-9007

afrazier@aero.und.edu

(800) 258-1525

Questions…and, hopefully, answers…