So you want to fly drones
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Are you flying a drone or thinking of buying one? This webinar covers all things related to drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as well as best practices and legal considerations. Once reserved for use by the military and dedicated hobbyists, drones now extend to a variety of personal applications and recreation as well as commercial use, ranging from surveying and video production to search and rescue and even law enforcement. While the guidance for drone use is evolving, it’s important to understand the current rules and adopt standard operating procedures to ensure your safe missions and that you’re meeting community expectations.
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So you want to fly drones
- 1. Brad Hayden Robotic Skies So You Want To Fly Drones What’s safe, legal and practical John Zimmerman Sporty’s Pilot Shop
- 2. John Zimmerman • Active GA Pilot Comm/Multi/Inst/Heli • Vice President Sporty’s Pilot Shop So You Want To Fly Drones
- 3. Brad Hayden • Private Pilot • Avionics Technician • President & CEO Robotic Skies So You Want To Fly Drones
- 4. • What are UAS? • Rules for operation • Fitness for operation • UAS site selection • Preflight considerations • Additional resources presentation overview So You Want To Fly Drones
- 6. • UA – Unmanned Aircraft • UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle • RPA – Remotely Piloted Aircraft • UAS – Unmanned Aircraft System Basics A drone by any other name
- 7. • LOS – Line of Sight • BLOS – Beyond Line of Sight • sUAS – Small UAS weighing under 55 pounds • FPV – First Person View • NASA UTM – Unmanned Traffic Management System • OPA - Optionally Piloted Aircraft • Consumer Drones – UAS flown for hobby purposes • Commercial Drones – flown for pay or compensation Basics Helpful terminology
- 8. Basics UAS components FAA: Integration of Civil Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) Roadmap
- 12. Basics Smart ideas • Video/photography • Agriculture • Exploration • Inspection • Science • Survey • Disaster relief/rescue • Safety/law enforcement
- 15. Basics Purchasing decisions • Mission - what do you need it to do? Payload? • Who will operate it? • Price - you get what you pay for (mostly) • Ground controller matters a lot! Screen or phone? • Battery life
- 16. Rules for sUAS operation
- 17. Operations Rules • The FAA considers drones to be aircraft • You must operate under an exemption • Hobby, Public Entity, Commercial • Ignorance of the rules is no excuse, especially for certificated pilots!
- 18. Operations Restrictions • Fly below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles • Keep the aircraft within visual line of sight at all times • Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations • Don't fly within 5 miles of an airport unless you contact the airport and control tower before flying • Don't fly near people or stadiums • Don't fly an aircraft that weighs more than 55 lbs • Don't be careless or reckless with your unmanned aircraft – you could be fined for endangering people or other aircraft
- 19. Operations ToDos • Hobby – register your drone with the FAA • Commercial – get a Section 333 exemption • Public Entity – obtain a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization • More commercial rules coming this year
- 21. Airmanship applies to unmanned aviation just like it does to manned aviation You ARE a pilot! Airmanship mindset Fitness for operation
- 22. How are you feeling? Fitness for operation
- 23. Currency and proficiency Fitness for operation • Yes, read the manual • Lost comm link? • Automation modes • Battery life
- 24. • Don’t be autopilot dependent. Be proficient “on the sticks” • When in doubt, downgrade automation Automation management Fitness for operation
- 25. • FPV – you may need an observer • Important • Observer is to find other aircraft or obstacles. • Doesn’t extend LOS. Crew resource management Fitness for operation
- 26. Site evaluation for UAS
- 27. • Regulatory considerations • Airports • TFRs • People • Stadiums Most important step in your preflight Site evaluation for UAS
- 28. • Airport permission • Some airports have online forms Contacting airports Site evaluation for UAS
- 29. • B4UFly (FAA) • Hover • Drone Buddy • Airmap Apps can help a lot Site evaluation for UAS Screenshot it!
- 30. • Consider helicopters – they often operate below 500 ft. AGL Not just airports Site evaluation for UAS
- 31. • Obstacles - especially power lines! Hazards beyond the map Site evaluation for UAS
- 32. • Consider the location of the sun • You must be able to keep drone in sight at all times What’s safe, not just what’s legal Site evaluation for UAS
- 33. It’s not about the law; be a good neighbor! Privacy Site evaluation for UAS
- 34. • Community considerations • Local ordinances • State laws may be more restrictive than FARs Not just the FAA Site evaluation for UAS
- 35. • Use Google Earth to get a sense of terrain, houses, etc. • Visit in person • Take notes/photos from previous flights Inspect the site Site evaluation for UAS
- 36. • Area clear? Consider cones or a tarp Landing zone Site evaluation for UAS
- 37. Winds Obstacles Terrain/turbulence Forced landing options Entry route Exit route Landing spot condition Checklist can help Site evaluation for UAS
- 39. If you don’t preflight, you will crash Yes, you do need to do a preflight Preflight procedures
- 40. • Weather considerations • Visibility • Temperature • Density altitude • Rain – bad for electronics Weather check Preflight procedures
- 41. • Wind is particularly important - over 10 knots? Wind is a limiting factor Preflight procedures
- 42. • Damaged or worn rotors, batteries or landing gear? • Registration visible? Aircraft inspection Preflight procedures
- 43. • Logbook can help prove you’re serious • For pilot and aircraft Consider some CYA Preflight procedures
- 44. • Full charge on all systems • Swap out batteries and log it • LiPo battery considerations Battery condition Preflight procedures
- 45. • SD card empty? • Wiring secure? • Check settings on controller Check camera system Preflight procedures
- 46. • Verify AP mode • Verify GPS lock – essential for stable flight Autopilot and GPS Preflight procedures
- 47. Do a runup/hover check One last step Preflight procedures
- 49. • RegisterMyUAS.FAA.gov • B4UFLY app • KnowBeforeYouFly.org Stay up to date Additional Resources
- 50. • Academy of Model Aeronautics (modelaircraft.org) • Local model airplane club Stay up to date Additional Resources
- 51. • RoboticSkies.com/news • Sportys.com/drones Stay up to date Additional Resources
- 52. John Zimmerman zimmerman@sportys.com So You Want To Fly Drones What’s safe, legal and practical Brad Hayden brad.hayden@roboticskies.com
Editor's Notes
- Add airspace, people
- Inherently unstable machines. If the GPS or autopilot isn’t working, it’ll get away in a hurry.
- Earth’s magnetic field – disturbances by geomagnetic storms can affect GPS or radio links.