Airspace Coordinator Policy

The following draft policy is offered for use, review and/or provide feedback or send your policy.

Please provide feedback or a copy of your policy to charles@droneresponders.org

Airspace Coordination Policy DRAFT

Background:

In the past, aviation assets were generally limited to law enforcement or medical helicopters for both emergency and non emergent operations. Presently, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones) have become more widely used by public safety agencies. Today, over 7000 public safety agencies are using drones in the U.S. by almost every discipline. Additionally, some of these drone operations are operating remotely and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) which requires coordination of both manned and unmanned aircraft to avoid midair collisions. At significant incidents, disaster response or major events drones are becoming commonplace and there may be multiple drones operating at any given event. These drones may be local, state, federal, news media and others. Airspace coordination is now a necessity.

Purpose:

To establish a policy with outlined procedures to ensure safety of the operation in the national airspace during emergent and non emergent operations when an aviation asset is being deployed. This includes general aviation aircraft such as helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems (drones)

Policy:

It shall be the policy that airspace coordination will be implemented anytime and prior to aviation assets being deployed for emergency incidents and/or utilized for non emergent events. Airspace will be the responsibility of the incident commander (IC) during emergency incidents and the event coordinator (EC) for non emergent events.

Procedure:

Anytime an aviation asset is deployed, an airspace coordinator shall be assigned and will work under the guidance of the IC or event coordinator.

No aviation asset shall be deployed without approval of the IC or EC.

When an aviation asset is deployed it will be announced that aircraft is in operation and will be announced when aircraft operations are complete.

If the drone is dispatched automatically and arrives first and is going to deploy, the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) will be advised that a drone operation has begun so that ECC can inform the IC upon arrival.

The Airspace Coordinator (AC) will coordinate both manned and unmanned aircraft operations. For helicopter operations, an LZ Coordinator may be needed separately but under the coordination of the AC.

If both manned and unmanned aircraft flights are operating simultaneously, a plan shall be established to provide altitude assignments to ensure safe separation distances.

Drones must operate at or below 400’ AGL or below U.S. Facility Map Grids in controlled airspace whichever is lower. To fly above these limits, special authorization must be obtained by the FAA’s Special Operations Support Center.

Helicopters are generally required to fly higher than 500’ AGL unless landing or taking off. Drones will always give right of way to manned aircraft and if necessary to descend or land.

If multiple drones are operating, they may be assigned specific geographic areas, specific altitudes and/or designated times.

Drone operators must coordinate with the AC and communicate when launching and landing.

When operating drones over people, moving vehicles and/or BVLOS, they must be flying in accordance of FAA regulations as to aircraft flown and waiver requirements.

News media has a right to fly and cannot be stopped from flying unless there is a temporary flight restriction (TFR), their flights interfere with incident operations or they do not have the appropriate waivers.