UAS Flight Activity Approval Form
This policy outlines requirements, guidelines and expectations for operating small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on SUNY Cortland property, including property that is owned, rented or leased by the Cortland College Foundation, or Cortland Auxiliary Services. Effective implementation of this policy ensures that practices are observed to:
Prior to operating a small UAS on university property, individuals must seek approval through the UAS Review Committee (UASRC). The UASRC consists of members from the following offices and departments: Environmental Health and Safety; Facilities Operations and Services; Purchasing; Risk Management; and University Police. Additionally, depending on the flight activity or circumstances, other campus offices will be included in the approval process.
Approval to operate a small UAS will only be granted for one of the following purposes:
Note: use of small UAS for hobby or recreational purposes is currently not permitted.
Small UAS operators are expected to observe the requirements outlined in this policy, and are responsible for complying with applicable federal, state and local regulations. For all small UAS operators, regulatory violations are subject to legal action.
Date of Inception: January 29, 2018
Latest Revision/Review Date: October 18, 2019
Previous Revision/Review Date: November 15, 2018
Note: The Pilot in Command must possess a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating.
The following are required for UAS flight activities on university property:
Note: other individuals may manipulate the flight controls of a small UAS; however, these individuals must be under the direct supervision of the small UAS operator (i.e., remote pilot in command).
Note: the approval process for flight activity is discussed further in the following sub-heading.
At a minimum of 14 days prior to flight activities, small UAS operators must submit a UAS Flight Activity Approval Form and other supporting documentation. The Form and supporting documents will then be forward to other members of the UASRC.
Information within the form and supporting documentation include:
Note: proof of FAA UAS registration should be provided.
Note: The date and time the airport was contacted will be specified by the UAS operator in Section III of the Flight Activity Approval Form, after the form is approved.
For educational instruction, the SUNY Cortland faculty or staff member is responsible for submitting the UAS Fight Activity Form and other supporting documentations.
The form and supporting documentation will be reviewed once received. If all components within application are satisfactory, a member of the UASRC will approve the form, and return it to the applicant via email (Note: additional requirements, if applicable, will be specified on the approval form). If the application is not satisfactory, it will be returned to the applicant with the reason(s) for disapproval specified. In instances where an application lacks certain information, small UAS operators may re-submit the updated application and supporting documentation to the UASRC. Otherwise, decisions to disapprove an application are final.
Approval to operate a small UAS may be for a single flight, or blanket approval. A blanket approval is granted for certain educational instruction, or other university-supported efforts related to research, inspections and mapping. Moreover, a blanket approval will support flight activities for a specified time range but will not exceed one year. In instances where a blanket approval is granted, small UAS operators must contact the Cortland County airport before each flight event.
As outlined in Section IV, all small UAS operators are expected to have a written safety plan. The safety plan will be submitted to the UASRC with the UAS Fight Activity Approval Form. At a minimum, the safety plan must specify:
If it is applicable, the safety plan must be reviewed with participants before the flight activity.
In addition to adhering to stipulations within the UAS Flight Activity Approval Form, UAS operators are expected to observe FAA regulations. Additionally, participants in flight activities are expected to observe requirements that are specified in the written safety plan.
The requirements and guidelines specified in this sub-section are not intended to be all- inclusive. The following represent minimum requirements and guidelines for safe aircraft operation once the UAS Flight Activity Approval is approved.
Note: Airport contact verification should be identified.
Note: important checklist items are summarized in Section VI.
Note: The conditions must be performed with vision that is unaided by any device other than corrective lenses.
Note: Exceptions for operating aircraft during twilight hours are identified in 14 CFR, Part 107.29.
Note: There is a Cortland County law that specifies restrictions involving flight activities over stadiums and mass gatherings.
Small UAS operators should conduct preflight inspections in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, if applicable. The checklist items in this section represent minimum preflight inspection expectations. When deficiencies are identified, appropriate corrective action must be implemented before flight activities take place.
Checklist Items |
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1. Are registration markings affixed to the UAS and are they legible? |
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2. Is scheduled maintenance up-to-date as specified by the manufacturer? |
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3. Are the UAS and associated components in good working condition? |
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4. Is auxiliary equipment securely attached to the UAS? |
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5. Have UAS communication links been verified? |
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6. Has the UAS compass been calibrated? |
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7. Is the type of fuel used for the UAS correct and is fuel quantity sufficient for the duration of flight activities? |
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8. Are battery levels sufficient? |
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9. Is the flight path free of obstructions? |
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10. If applicable, has the safety plan been reviewed by flight activity participants? |
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11. Are a hard hat and safety eyewear worn by flight activity participants? |
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