© 2015-2016 UAS Colorado S. McClung, 5/5/2016

DRONES: Think Before You Launch

Presentation for the

Business Aviation Safety Summit

5, 6 May 2016

Sean D. McClung

UAS Colorado is a 501(c)6 non-profit business league, committed to promoting the safe integration and use of unmanned aircraft systems for the benefit of the public

Composed of commercial companies, universities, airports, first responders, economic development organizations, government representatives, etc.

• Advocate for public policy • Create an industry identity for UAS in Colorado• Promote the safe, professional operation of UAS • Conduct public awareness campaigns • Support Public and Private Uses of UAS in Colorado

• Promote the safe, professional operation of UAS • Conduct public awareness campaigns

• Think Before You Launch (TBYL) is an awareness campaign

• Founded by an alliance of UAS and Aviation stakeholders to:

Prevent accidents and improve aviation safety

Conduct education and encourage safe and responsible operation of UAS

Raise awareness about hazards associated with the low-altitude environment

Drone - ology

Drone is a commonly used word, but still perceived negatively, producing visions of:

• Unthinking• Unfeeling• Hostile• Weaponized• Flying Killer Robots • Taking over the World

Terminology: Is “Drone” the Right Word?

UAS are Controlled by People

Other terms:

• Military: Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV) or Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)

Vehicles and Systems:

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is the remote airframe and payload

• An Unmanned Aircraft System encompasses the entire system:• Airframe• Sensors• Communications• Operators• Analysts• And more…

UAS Classifications

MICRO UAS

Lockheed SR-72

• 100 feet long

• Operational speed of Mach 6• Global circumnavigation in six hours

TO

MEGA UAS AND SPACE VEHICLES

Range of UAS Airframes

HOBBY AIRCRAFT

TO

TO COMMERCIAL GRADE UAS

FROM

Not ONE Industry - a Community of Industries:• Agriculture• Real Estate• Insurance• Media & Entertainment• Construction• Emergency Services• Geology & Mining• Energy, Utilities• Tourism• Wildlife and Fisheries• Transportation & cargo• Aerospace & Defense• Infrastructure• Mapping and Weather• All Industries Benefit from UAS!

What is the UAS Industry?

Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library, Colorado Historical Society, and Denver Art Museum

Horse-pulled wagons, automobiles, and trolleys traveled the streets of downtown Denver, Colorado, in 1910.

How Mature is this Industry?

Monitoring Snowpack and Water Levels

Commercial UAS Applications

Search and Rescue and Emergency Services

Forestry and Wildlife Management

Avalanche Management

Infrared Cameras Find Victims Fast

Precision Agriculture• Precision Use of Pesticides & Fungicides

• Precise Fertilization

• Precise Irrigation

• Reduced Environmental Impact

• Significant Cost Savings

• Agricultural Spray and Analysis

Commercial UAS Applications

Surveying and Precision Mapping

• Very High Accuracy

• Cost Savings

• Time Savings

Accurately Record Mining Progress

Precision Surveying

Commercial UAS Applications

Detect Hot-Spots in Power-Lines

Detect Gas & Oil-Leaks Inspect Bridges & StructuresEnvironmental

Monitoring, Reporting, Security

Utilities and Infrastructure

Commercial UAS Applications

Fire Fighting

Saving Lives,

Property &

Resources

1. Monitoring Fire – Position & Progress

2. Monitoring Crews

3. Establish Communication Bridges to Crews

4. Analyzing Fuel Ahead of Fire

5. Fire Suppression (Water & Retardants)

=> Cost Savings of factor 10 or better !

6. Can Fly where manned Aircraft can not

Commercial UAS Applications

Efficiencies in Cost

UAV’s accomplish almost every manned aviation operation at a FULL MAGNITUDE of difference in price:

• Helicopter per hour $250 – UAS $25 per hour• Aircraft per hour $500 – UAS $50 per hour

• Annual SAR Expenditures~$250,000 – UAS $25,000 Projected Annual Expense

Unmanned Aircraft Systems are Economically Compelling

Future of the UAS Industry http://www.tealgroup.com

Worldwide UAV production will triple in the next decade, increasing from the current $4 billion annual expenditures to $14 billion, totaling over $93 Billion in the next ten years

The U.S. will account for 76% of the RDT&E spending on UAV technology over the next decade and about 58% of the procurement

UAS Are Here to Stay

They are the Next Evolution of Aerospace Technology

http://www.tealgroup.com/

• FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 signed into law, authorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to integrate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into the national airspace system (NAS) by 2015.

• As of January 1, 2016 UAS (unmanned aerial systems aka drones) flights are legal for recreational users and limited commercial users.

• Registration recreational use Drones and RC Aircraft is required by the FAA. The fee is $5 and covers all aircraft used by one operator.

FAA UAS Integration into the NAS

Challenges

• Air Safety

• Privacy

• Integration into Industry

Current FAA Flight Safety Recommendations

• Follow community-based safety guidelines, as developed by organizations such as the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).

• Fly no higher than 400 feet and remain below any surrounding obstacles when possible.

• Keep your sUAS in eyesight at all times, and use an observer to assist if needed.

• Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations, and you must see and avoid other aircraft and obstacles at all times.

• Do not intentionally fly over unprotected persons or moving vehicles, and remain at least 25 feet away from individuals and vulnerable property.

• Contact the airport or control tower before flying within five miles of an airport.

• Do not fly in adverse weather conditions such as in high winds or reduced visibility.

• Do not fly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Ensure the operating environment is safe and that the operator is competent and proficient in the operation of the sUAS.

• Do not fly near or over sensitive infrastructure or property such as power stations, water treatment facilities, correctional facilities, heavily traveled roadways, government facilities, etc.

• Check and follow all local laws and ordinances before flying over private property.

• Do not conduct surveillance or photograph persons in areas where there is an expectation of privacy without the individual’s permission (see AMA’s privacy policy).

For Recreational Users of sUAS

So what is missing from the FAA UAS Guidelines?The Fact That 0-400 Feet AGL is Shared Airspace

> 15 industries Use Low Altitude Manned Flight Operations

• Emergency Medical Helicopters

• Aerial Firefighting

• Aerial Agriculture Application

• Utility Surveys

• Wildlife surveys

• Predator Control Operations

• Pipeline Surveys

• Law Enforcement Operations

• Military Training Flights

Including:

Following the FAA Rules Keeps You Safe, Right?

Drones near airports, wildfires, and general aviation are all the result of

irresponsible or uneducated operators who are clearly violating the current FAA

regulation. Flying into airspace restricted by Temporary Flight Restrictions is also

prohibited

BUT: Even following all of the current FAA recommendations, drones operating

legally are sharing airspace with low altitude manned flight operations

• Over 3,000 aerial application pilots and aircraft apply product to 71 million acres annually nationwide

• This includes farmland, ranchland, forests, waterways, flooded fields, federal lands, and state lands

• Due to altitude, the agricultural aviation industry has the greatest statistical chance of a mid-air collision with unmanned aircraft

>80% of UAS Systems are Projected for Precision Agriculture

There are potential hazards and liabilities for both UAS operators and land owners

Think Before You Launch

Agricultural Aircraft Following Bird Strikes

• Ensure the operating environment is safe and that the operator is competent and proficient in the operation of the sUAS

• Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations, and you must see and avoid other aircraft and obstacles at all times

FAA Puts Safe Flight Responsibility on the UAS (Drone) Pilot

Why is the burden for safety on the drone operator? can’t the manned aircraft pilot see and avoid drones, just like other obstacles?

Visibility of UAS (Drones)

Can you find the

197 foot tower

In 10 seconds or

less?

Case Study: Unmarked MET Towers

Texas MET Tower Next to a Cotton Field

Multiple Fatalities Have Resulted from Unmarked MET Towers

• As responsible players in the UAS Industry, we want to help prevent catastrophic accidents between drones and manned aircraft

• FAA guidance makes airspace below 400 feet shared airspace

• We decided to test the visibility of drones

• Primary purpose: Assess pilots’ ability to visually acquire UAS (“drones”) during combined manned-unmanned agricultural operations

• Secondary purpose: Qualitatively demonstrate effectiveness of ground markings for UAS ground crews

• The experiment hypothesis: Drones will be difficult to see and track for a pilot of the manned aircraft

Think Before You Launch - Visibility Tests

5 manned aircraft: 4 fixed-wing and 1 rotary-wing, participated as 'Duster 1-5'

Manned Aircraft

Low-wing, agricultural aircraft. Horizontally opposed, turbocharged piston engine. 280 gallon capacity. Working speed: 120 mph

Low-wing, agricultural aircraft. Turbine-engine. 400-gallon capacity Working speed: 120-140 mph

Piston-engine, light utility helicopter Max gross weight: 2,500 lbsMax cruise speed: 130 mph

Duster 1' and 5' - Cessna T188C Huskies

'Duster 2' and 3' - Air Tractor (AT) 402Bs

'Duster 4' - Robinson R44

UAS - Unmodified Agribotix Enduro (Fields B & C)

• Multi-rotor with a rotor-to-rotor span of 2.3 ft (28 inches). Weight: 6 lbs. Cruise speed: 30 mph

• Color – black and silver metallic• Designed for long-endurance, precision

agriculture operations, such as infrared imaging• The aircraft is flown by laptop or using a radio-

control transmitter

Unmanned Aircraft and Ground Markings

Prototype ground crew markings:• Orange tarp - 'UAV' printed in large black

letters• Blue tarp – no lettering• Both laid flat on the ground

Ground Markings (Fields D & E)

Avian, LLC Developed Visibility Test ProceduresResearch Guided by Metro State University, Denver

Testing conducted on 02 October 2015

5 manned aircraft flights out of La Junta Municipal Airport (LHX)

Test route: 5 privately owned fields (labelled 'A-E') located between Hawley, CO and Fowler, CO

Testing Parameters

Pilots of the manned test aircraft targeted an altitude of 250 ft AGL for all test points, with a 50-foot tolerance band biased away from the UAS

UAS flew pre-programmed, automated patterns at 100 ft AGL, providing a nominal vertical separation of 150 ft between manned and unmanned test aircraft at all times

This 150-ft vertical separation was established as a necessary artifact of test to ensure flight safety

Fields D and E were unmanned with no airborne UAS. Each had prototype ground crew markings, consisting of an orange tarp with 'UAV' printed in large black letters, along with a blue tarp laid flat on the ground to make the work site more visible

• Fixed-wing –one positive sighting out of eight opportunities• Momentary sun reflection off UAS

• Pilot unable to maintain track

• Rotary-wing –pilot was able to acquire both UAS but had difficulty maintaining visual contact

• UAS ground crews looking up to the sky were able to visually acquire every inbound aircraft

• Prototype ground markings• All pilots were able to visually acquire, although not necessarily read the letters

• Markings were difficult to distinguish from irrigation tarps

Results of TBYL Visibility Tests

Thought UAS should be considered in make agricultural operations more efficient and more profitable

BUT:

• Concerned about manned-unmanned midair collisions

• Not comfortable sharing the same airspace with unmanned vehicles during agricultural operations

• Greatest challenge was trying to spot UAS while simultaneously looking for other obstacles

• Questions and issues need to be addressed before implementing UAS into agricultural operations

Post-Flight Pilot DebriefsDuster 1:

• Wires and powerlines• Towers• Birds• Vehicles• People• Other aircraft• Changing terrain• Trees• Fences• Buildings• Equipment or tanks in agricultural

fields

Low Altitude is an Obstacle Rich Environment

He believed unmanned aircraft can be integrated into agricultural operations and benefit agriculture once the safety issues are resolved

BUT:

• Felt vulnerable to other safety hazards as he fixated on performing a single task, acquiring the UAS

• Felt that UAS operators need to have the same qualifications as pilots of manned aircraft and only manned aircraft should occupy the airspace until a safe solution is demonstrated

Post-Flight Pilot DebriefsDuster 2:

Felt that UAS could benefit agricultural operations

BUT:

• UAS operators needs to have a private pilot’s license

• Not comfortable sharing airspace with UAS and not knowing its location

• Concerned about a pilot’s ability to visually scan for UAS while performing other safety-related tasking

• General FAA rules and regulations should be implemented in flight planning and communications

Post-Flight Pilot DebriefsDuster 3:

Was unsure about UAS integration into agriculture

• Thought it would be complicated to integrate UAS into agricultural aviation

• Stated the technology still needs to advance so UAS can be safely integrated

AND:

• Initial contact of UAS was the greatest challenge

• It was extremely challenging to maintain visual contact

• He believed that both types of aircraft should not work in the same field simultaneously

Post-Flight Pilot DebriefsDuster 4 (helicopter):

Opposed to UAS integration with manned aircraft in agriculture

• Did not feel safe at all sharing the same airspace with unmanned aircraft

• None of the drones were visible to him during the test events

• Believed the operator of a UAS needs to know the airspace system, communication procedures, and the right-of-way rules of aviation

Post-Flight Pilot DebriefsDuster 5:

• UAS were much more difficult to see than the pilots anticipated

• Searching for UAS as a separate, dedicated task increased pilot workload and detracted from their ability to perform other safety-related tasks

• It was much easier for pilots to detect UAS ground crews and ground markings than to visually acquire the UAS

• It was much easier for UAS ground crews to detect inbound test aircraft

Conclusions of TBYL Visibility Tests

Near-term

• Procedural de-confliction

No simultaneous operations in same field or adjacent fields

Methods: phone coordination, scheduling, and self-reporting via software applications

• Develop ‘Culture of accountability for, ‘see-and-avoid’ responsibility by UAS operators similar to manned aviation community

Supported by education campaigns and UAS regulations

Hobbyists and commercial users

• Continued development of distinct, brightly colored ground-crew and / or field markings

• Development of web-based operations centers

Recommendations of TBYL Visibility Tests

Long-term

• Mandated visibility enhancements for UAS if supported and verified by further testingExamples: mandatory colors, external lighting, faceted mirrors

• Technological solutionsTransponder-based solutions, such as TCAS or ADS-B

Recommendations of TBYL Visibility Tests

Questions?

Resources

• www.thinkbeforeyoulaunch.org

• www.faa.gov

• www.knowbeforeyoufly.org

• www.agaviation.org

• www.airmap.io

• www.noflyzone.org

• www.codot.gov/programs/aeronautics/FlyUASResponsibly

http://www.thinkbeforeyoulaunch.org/http://www.faa.gov/http://www.knowbeforeyoufly.org/http://www.agaviation.org/http://www.airmap.io/http://www.noflyzone.org/http://www.codot.gov/programs/aeronautics/FlyUASResponsibly

Sean D. McClungChairman, Board of Directorssmcclung@uascolorado.comTel: 719-208-9244

Executive Director, CAAAcoagav@gmail.comTel: 970-217-5293

Jessica Freeman

Thank You !

© 2015-2016 UAS Colorado S. McClung, 5/5/2016

mailto:smcclung@uascolorado.commailto:coagav@gmail.com