Flight Safety in the Drone Age

FLIGHT SAFETY IN THE DRONE AGE –Version 1.0

VERSION 1.0 operations. Not all these provisions apply to all flight operations. The guidance is general in nature. The guidance assumes that pilot awareness and response are particularly important where drone safety technologies and rules may not yet be developed fully or implemented effectively. Pilots are encouraged to review and selectively integrate these recommendations into their operations.

to suit their needs. Resources, including a supporting technical paper and a poster can be found at: secureav.com/drones.

The guidance is organized in five sections, presented by phase-of-flight. The provisions within each section are not presented in any order of importance.

Safety Guidance for Manned Aircraft Pilots Operating in the Presence of Drones 1. GENERAL EDUCATION AND PREPARATION PREFACE Pilots should: a. recognize that most drone operators are not Drones, or Unmanned Aircraft Systems—UAS— certificated pilots and may not understand or create substantive (if not profound) new adhere to aviation operations and safety capabilities, opportunities, and benefits. But as requirements; drones become more common, manned aircraft b. recognize that most small drones operate operators face new challenges. The FAA asserts without systems that provide a level of safety that drones “are inherently different from manned equivalent to manned aircraft in terms of aircraft” and “create situations not common to collision avoidance capability and reliability; manned flight.” c. become familiar with drone regulations, and to Current safety initiatives advancing aircraft distinguish the flight profiles, characteristics, integration focus almost exclusively on drone and operations of manned aircraft from those operators using education, regulation, and (more of drones; recently) enforcement. Promising technologies may d. recognize that drones may be operated in provide effective manned/unmanned aircraft unexpected or unauthorized ways, including at interoperability in the near future, but these nascent night, in instrument meteorological conditions efforts do not fully address the risks to manned (IMC), in controlled or uncontrolled airspace, aircraft created by drones. at unauthorized altitudes, and beyond visual This brochure responds to the need for drone line-of-sight (BVLOS) of the operator, possibly avoidance safety guidance for manned aircraft impeding effective collision avoidance; pilots. Effective guidance is critical, because the e. consider that many drone operators are essential visual flight rules (VFR) safety preoccupied with maneuvering for mechanism—“see-and-avoid”—is largely photography or other applications, which may inadequate with regard to the small drones that compromise situational awareness; create the greatest risk of collision with manned aircraft. f. anticipate that some (larger, typically public) drones may require “chase aircraft” while in We offer the following guidance to fill the void. controlled airspace—possibly making departure and arrival procedures, traffic pattern altitudes, and handling non-standard; INTRODUCTION g. review and understand the limitations of even The following safety guidance is designed for pilots the most effective visual scanning techniques; who may experience unexpected, increasingly and frequent encounters with unmanned aircraft Flight Safety in the Drone Age – Ver. 1.0

h. train to respond to possible collisions and  near areas of high public interest— other emergencies arising from conflict such as fires, festivals, parades, between manned aircraft and drones. attractions, parks, and popular photographic and vista points; b. query ATC and/or Flight Service regarding drone operations in the airport environment; 2. PREFLIGHT OPERATIONS c. recognize the risks of drone fly-away (loss Pilots should: of command and control, “C2”), and lost link a. review diverse information sources, (pre-programmed procedure upon loss of including: Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), C2); Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), Chart d. use available aircraft lighting to increase Supplements U.S., online flight planning your visibility to drone operators; resources, airport and airport/pilot e. when in a climb, consider a cruise climb association resources, charted UAS which maximizes visibility; procedures, and Flight Service; f. listen attentively, including on 121.5 MHz, b. recognize that information supporting the for radio reports of drone sightings/activities, separation of manned from unmanned flight make periodic transmissions, and answer operations is neither readily available nor inquiries concerning drone operations; standardized, and may change frequently; g. recognize that many private airports and pilots should monitor those changes heliports are not accurately charted (on a accordingly; current FAA Form 5010 – Airport Master c. when indicated, query Flight Service, airport Record), if at all; operators, and ATC regarding drone h. for rotorcraft operations, exercise operations in the airport environment prior to heightened vigilance when landing at off- taxi-out; airport locations. Conduct a high recon d. consider that airport personnel or ATC may around the intended landing site to provide acquiesce to drone activity in the airport visual and aural warning to drone operators environment without notice to pilots; nearby; e. where practicable, identify and monitor drone i. when flying rotorcraft at low altitudes, keep site activity, including lost link loiter points airspeeds at or near the best autorotation along their planned route; speed; flying higher may improve safety f. recognize that most commercial drones are margins; permitted to operate as close as 2 NM from j. recognize that risk of collision is airports without a published instrument flight exacerbated by distractions during high- procedure or an operating control tower; workload phases of flight; g. know that some drone operations may occur k. if aggressive maneuvers are necessary to within 5 SM of airports; and avoid collision, consider the acute h. give attention to aeronautical chart vulnerability that can result (to windshields, symbology for drones (“UA” for unmanned jet intakes, or rotor systems); aircraft activity), identify l. anticipate that fires, public gatherings, charted drone operations points-of-interest, and newsworthy events affecting planned flights, and are likely to attract drone operations; avoid Unmanned operating in their vicinity; plan for ample separation. Aircraft Activity m. consider that nonstandard lighting may Symbol indicate that the aircraft is a drone; 3. IN-FLIGHT OPERATIONS n. maintain greater separation from drones than might otherwise appear necessary; be Pilots should: prepared for the unknown; a. increase their awareness of drone hazards o. fly predictably so drone operators can where incursions are most likely: better avoid you;  during flight below 500' AGL; p. recognize the potential for drone collision  during climb-outs and descents on even beyond congested areas; terminal segments of flight; q. make in-flight reports (a PIREP) of all  while flying faster, lower—where see- unsafe drone sightings or incidents; and and-avoid margins are reduced by the r. identify and preserve material evidence of increased speed; drone incidents and rogue drones.

2 Flight Safety in the Drone Age – Ver. 1.0

address exigent safety hazards near airports and heliports by measured (exclusively 4. POST-FLIGHT OPERATIONS ground-based, and strictly not airspace) Pilots should: zoning and land use action. a. understand that reporting hazardous drone operations and near-miss incidents will not only assist in education and possible ACKNOWLEDGMENTS enforcement actions against errant drone operators, but will help build the database The publication has received extensive editorial required to promote the safe integration of comment and suggestions by a diverse body of manned and unmanned aircraft operations; experts from both manned and unmanned aviation and communities. See Acknowledgments at: b. become familiar with and file (or request secureav.com/ack.pdf. that ATC file) applicable reports, The Permanent Editorial Board (PEB) provides including: Near Mid-Air Collision (NMAC), editorial oversight and stewardship of the initiative. and the Aviation Safety Reporting System See PEB at: secureav.com/PEB.pdf. (ASRS) General Form. NOTICE This publication may be used as a resource for 5. AVIATION COMMUNITY safety content development, although it is Pilots should: recommended that this be supported by a. communicate to all stakeholders the risks independent research on the suitability of its arising from drone operations; provisions for specific or local applications and b. directly engage ATC and airport situations. It is not intended to provide legal advice management regarding drone operations and must not be relied upon as such. Please send and safety; suggestions, edits, errata, questions, and c. avoid the assumption that airport and tower comments to: [email protected]. personnel: RESOURCES  are fully apprised of local drone activity and hazards;  A supporting annotated technical paper  understand and exercise the scope of addressing issues raised in this brochure in their authority regarding drone safety greater depth can be found at: oversight; secureav.com/drones. A corresponding safety  have operational procedures in place awareness poster is also available at that site. to document and manage drone  The Aviators Model Code of Conduct (AMCC) activity effectively; Initiative has developed voluntary safety  respond to operator notifications of guidance, including model codes of conduct planned flight proximate to airports in a for: aviation maintenance technicians, aviators, manner consistent with safety of flight; flight instructors, glider aviators, helicopter  file and communicate appropriate pilots, light sport aviators, seaplane pilots, and drone safety reports and notifications student pilots. Available at: secureav.com. to all relevant parties;  Further information about flight safety and d. engage and inform local governments near drones is available at: faa.gov/uas. airports of relevant safety risks, and urge their active engagement in advancing flight

safety; © Michael S. Baum. All Rights Reserved. e. serve as a drone safety resource to local Terms of Use are available at secureav.com airports and airport/pilot associations; f. serve as ambassadors to the local drone community, recognizing that many drone operators are unfamiliar with manned aircraft operations and safety; invite drone operators to relevant safety meetings and seminars; and g. in the absence of Federal preemption, consider engaging local government to