Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations.pdf

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.14 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) TEAM AND UAS OPERATIONS Revised: March 9, 2022 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish procedures for the operation of the Department’s Unmanned Aircraft...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.14 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) TEAM AND UAS OPERATIONS Revised: March 9, 2022 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish procedures for the operation of the Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and outline the protocols for operating unmanned aircraft systems for law enforcement and public safety purposes. II. DEFINITIONS: Beyond Visual Line of Sight: When flight crew members, such as the remote pilot in command (PIC), the person manipulating the controls, and, if used, the visual observer (VO), are not capable of seeing the aircraft with vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses. Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA): A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant of approval for a specific flight operation. Pilot in Command (PIC or UAS Pilot): An employee who has obtained a remote pilot certificate with a small, unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) rating and any required waivers issued by the FAA. He/she will comply with all regulations for UAS operation pursuant to 14 CFR Part 107 or as a Public Aircraft Operator under a valid COA and applicable Florida statutes. Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 107 (14 CFR Part 107): The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules for sUAS operations other than model aircraft. The rules cover a broad spectrum of commercial and government uses for sUAS. Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS): An “sUAS” is an aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds, including everything onboard. Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS): An unmanned aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the sUAS) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the sUAS in the national airspace system. Visual Line of Sight (VLOS): When any flight crew member is capable of seeing the aircraft with vision unaided by any device, other than eyeglasses or contact lenses, in order to know the UAS’ location, determine the UAS’ attitude, altitude, and direction of flight, observe the airspace for other air traffic or hazards, and determine that the UAS does not endanger the life or property of another. Visual Observer (VO): A person who is designated by the PIC to supplement situational awareness and VLOS and assist with seeing and avoiding other air traffic or objects aloft or on the ground. Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 1 of 11 III. UAS TEAM: A. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. It is the intent of the Department to provide highly trained and skilled UAS pilots as a resource to enhance operational capability, safety, and situational awareness. 2. UAS pilots support the Department and any other requesting law enforcement agency (as permitted) by providing a unique, viable, safe, versatile, supplemental tool for incident commanders and first responders. 3. UAS provide first responders with a tool that can immediately access areas and supplement manned aircraft assets. B. COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE: 1. The descriptions and duties of each position within the UAS Team are as follows: a. Team Commander: i. Shall be appointed by the chief of police. ii. Shall obtain a remote pilot certification with an sUAS rating within six (6) months of assignment and be responsible for keeping his/her certification current. iii. Must attend and participate, time permitting, in team training sessions. iv. Shall be responsible for the overall command of the team. v. Shall be responsible for ensuring that all team members receive sufficient training and certification. vi. Shall be responsible for ensuring all COAs, waivers, pilot licenses, and aircraft registrations remain current and valid. vii. Shall maintain a current list of authorized pilots by name and remote pilot certificate number who are authorized to fly under any COA, or waiver issued to the Department. He/she shall also maintain a list of authorized visual observers. These lists shall be presented for inspection upon request from the FAA. viii. Shall appoint an acting commander in times of absence. ix. Shall carry, and have activated, his/her department issued cellular phone. Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 2 of 11 x. Shall be subject to call-out at any time. xi. Shall be responsible for complying with all Departmental rules/regulations, policy and procedures, and written directives. xii. Will assume the duties and responsibilities of a UAS pilot as needed. b. Assistant Team Commander: i. Shall be recommended by the UAS Team commander and approved by the chief of police and hold the rank of sergeant or above. ii. Shall be responsible for duties designated by the team commander. iii. Shall assume the role of team commander during the commander’s absence. iv. Shall obtain a remote pilot certification with an sUAS rating within six (6) months of assignment and be responsible for keeping his/her certification current. v. Must attend and participate, time permitting, in team training sessions unless prior approval is obtained from the UAS Team commander. vi. Shall carry, and have activated, his/her department issued cellular phone. vii. Shall be subject to call-out at any time. viii. Shall be responsible for complying with all Departmental rules/regulations, policy and procedures, and written directives. ix. Will assume the duties and responsibilities of a UAS pilot as needed. c. Pilot / Pilot in Command (PIC): i. Shall be selected using the selection process for specialty teams as outlined in the Agreement between the City of Boca Raton and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35. ii. An Exceeds Expectations score is required on an employee’s most recent employee performance evaluation to apply for a position or to remain as a UAS pilot. iii. Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Shall not hold rank higher than sergeant. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 3 of 11 iv. Shall obtain a remote pilot certification with an sUAS rating within six (6) months of assignment and be responsible for keeping his/her certification current. v. Shall be responsible for all duties and assignments delegated by the UAS Team commander or his/her designee. vi. Shall be responsible for flying aircraft in a safe and approved manner and will assume overall responsibility for all safety related matters. vii. Must attend and participate, time permitting, in team training sessions unless prior approval is obtained from the UAS Team commander or his/her designee. viii. Shall be subject to call-out as assigned. ix. Shall carry, and have activated, his/her department issued cellular phone. x. Shall be responsible for complying with all Departmental rules/regulations, policy and procedures, and written directives. xi. Shall be required to notify the UAS Team commander in writing, when unavailable for call-out. xii. Shall ensure that all flights are logged appropriately. xiii. Shall follow checklists for each flight regardless if the flight is for training or an actual mission. xiv. d. Will be cross trained as a visual observer (VO). Visual Observer (VO): i. A visual observer may not necessarily be a member of the UAS Team. A VO is any officer who has been trained and approved by the UAS Team commander or his/her designee to assist a PIC during flight operations. ii. Shall be responsible for supporting the PIC to help ensure all UAS operations are conducted in a safe, protected, and effective manner. iii. Shall maintain an unaided visual line of sight any time the aircraft is airborne. iv. Shall ensure the takeoff and landing zones, and surrounding area are clear and safe of any public or other hazards. Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 4 of 11 v. Shall focus their attention on the aircraft, airspace, and surrounding area once airborne. vi. Shall ensure there are no potential conflicts or hazards such as birds, aircraft, wires, or trees. C. COMMAND CONTROL AND STRUCTURE: 1. The UAS Team commander reports to a bureau, district, or division commander within his/her chain of command, as designated by the chief of police. 2. When activated for an operation, the UAS Team commander or his/her designee reports directly to the incident commander, where one has been designated, or to the on-scene supervisor. 3. If the UAS Team commander or his/her designee is not present, the PIC shall report to the incident commander, where one has been designated, or to the on-scene supervisor. 4. When activated for an operation, the PIC shall have the final authority in determining if flight operations will launch or continue if already initiated. No person in a leadership position shall attempt to override the PIC’s decision. a. If a mission is altered or canceled by the PIC, he/she shall notify the watch commander or incident commander and UAS Team commander (or his/her designee) immediately. D. ACTIVATION PROCESS: 1. All requests for UAS support shall be authorized by either the watch commander, incident commander, or UAS Team commander (or his/her designee). 2. When at least two certified flight crew members (PIC and VO – as required) are on-duty and available: a. The watch commander, incident commander, or UAS Team commander (or his/her designee) shall approve the deployment of a UAS and make the request directly to the available flight crew members. 3. When at least two certified flight crew members (PIC and VO – as required) are not on-duty or available: a. An authorized supervisor shall contact the UAS Team commander or his/her designee to request a callout. b. Callouts should be limited to incidents involving risk to life; however, a callout may be initiated at the discretion of the authorizing supervisor. Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 5 of 11 4. In the event an activated flight crew requires additional assets, the PIC may contact the UAS Team commander or his/her designee directly with the request(s). 5. For complex missions that require a second or third crew and UAS, the UAS Team commander or his/her designee must also be on-scene to coordinate with the incident commander. 6. Any bureau within the Boca Raton Police Services Department may request the assistance of the UAS Team in planning or conducting appropriate operations. Any such requests shall be forwarded to the UAS Team commander or his/her designee. E. TRAINING STANDARDS: 1. UAS pilots will receive a minimum of eight (8) hours of training per month. The UAS Team commander or his/her designee shall be responsible for organizing the training sessions and preparing lesson plans. This training will be documented in the Department’s electronic training record software. 2. All UAS pilots shall complete at least 3 take off and landings with each type of UAS they operate within a 90-day period. 3. All UAS pilots shall be trained on each specific type of UAS they operate by the vendor of the UAS or a qualified UAS pilot in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. IV. UAS OPERATIONS: A. RESTRICTIONS: 1. Any law enforcement use of a drone for the purpose of surveillance, gathering evidence or information, must be done in accordance with FSS 934.50. 2. All Department UAS pilots must be authorized by the UAS Team commander prior to flying as a Public Aircraft Operator (PAO) under the authority of a COA, 14 CFR Part 107, or pursuant to any certificate of waiver that has been issued to the Department. a. Authorized pilots are not permitted to fly under the authority of a COA or waiver that has been issued to the Department for personal reasons or any other reason which is not authorized by the Department. 3. A PIC and VO will deploy in accordance with the Florida Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act, FSS 934.50. 4. No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage, while under the influence of alcohol, while using any drug that affects the person’s faculties in any way contrary to safety, or while having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater. Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 6 of 11 5. Employees shall not deploy a UAS in a careless or reckless manner or in violation of any applicable rules or laws. 6. Unless otherwise approved through the FAA, an employee shall only deploy a UAS within the line of sight of the operator in an attempt to detect and avoid hazards such as aircraft, trees, and property. This provision does not apply to indoor flights. 7. A PIC and one VO must be present before a UAS can be deployed unless operation without a VO is permitted by the FAA and only with approval of the UAS Team commander. 8. A UAS shall not be deployed when weather conditions exceed or are otherwise not in conformance with the operational parameters specified for the UAS being deployed. 9. A UAS shall not be deployed in conditions that exceed the manufacturer’s recommended limitations, including but not limited to range, ceiling, wind strength, and battery charge. B. PROHIBITED USES: 1. The UAS program and equipment shall not be used for the following: a. As a weapon or otherwise modified to deploy any projectile, chemical agent, or electric shock analogous to that of an electronic control weapon. b. To conduct unauthorized surveillance activities. c. To collect or use data in any manner that would harass, coerce, or discriminate against any person(s) based on their ethnicity, race, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. d. To intentionally gather intelligence solely related to First Amendment protected speech, associations, or activity inconsistent with the Florida statutes and constitutional protections. e. C. For personal use of any kind. UAS DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATION: 1. A UAS will be deployed for law enforcement purposes only, demonstration of the equipment as approved by the chief of police or his/her designee, or for training and testing. 2. Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 All UAS pilots shall follow preflight procedures to include: a. Weather assessment. b. Airspace assessment. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 7 of 11 c. Hazard/risk assessment. d. Aircraft airworthiness assessment. e. Assessment and accounting personnel condition. f. All other preflight protocols as indicated on the preflight checklist. 3. Any physical damage to equipment that cannot be resolved on-site, and which has an impact on safety of the mission, will override the deployment. These issues shall be resolved before flight. 4. UAS pilots shall be responsible for all decisions regarding UAS flight safety and shall abide by all FAA rules and laws governing the flight. 5. If flight is to be conducted within a restricted operational area or contrary to FAA regulations (and an existing COA or waiver does not permit the flight) an expedited Special Governmental Interest (SGI) waiver or authorization for UAS operation will be obtained by the PIC via the FAA’s System Operations Support Center (SOSC) prior to beginning flight operations. 6. Reasonable precautions will be made to avoid inadvertently recording or transmitting images of individuals and areas uninvolved with a mission. 7. In an emergency, the safety of persons on the ground and in the air is the number one priority. Fire, loss of link, loss of visual line of sight, loss of propulsion, personal injury, lost communications, and fly away/loss of control procedures shall be followed. 8. All UAS pilots shall follow postflight checklist procedures after each mission, to include training and test flights. D. OPERATING NEAR MANNED AIRCRAFT 1. Operations are prohibited when other manned aircraft are operating within the defined incident perimeter. 2. To operate a UAS while manned aircraft (e.g., a law enforcement helicopter) are in the general area simultaneously, the PIC will: a. Establish direct communications with the pilot of the manned aircraft. b. Notify the pilot of the manned aircraft as to the defined incident perimeter the UAS operation will be conducted within (e.g., under 400 feet). c. Receive verification from the pilot of the manned aircraft that he/she is not and will not be operating within the defined incident perimeter of the UAS. Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 8 of 11 d. Request permission from the pilot of the manned aircraft to operate a UAS within a defined incident perimeter that does not share the same airspace with the manned aircraft. e. If the pilot of the manned aircraft does not acknowledge and/or provide permission for UAS operation, a deployment shall not be made (or will be immediately terminated if the UAS deployment occurred previously). f. If at any time the pilot of a manned aircraft enters the defined incident perimeter of the UAS, the PIC will yield the right of way and immediately land the UAS in a safe manner. g. Ensure lost link protocols are set so that a return to launch point will maintain the aircraft within the defined incident perimeter. h. Maintain communications with the pilot of the manned aircraft, and immediately notify of any lost link incidents, or other events which could potentially impact their flight. E. DOCUMENTATION: 1. The PIC is responsible for ensuring that each UAS deployment is synced with and/or documented within the designated flight record system. The designated flight record system shall at minimum include: a. The reason or purpose for the flight and/or a case number b. The flight’s governing authority (e.g., 14 CFR Part 107) c. Date, time, duration, and location of the flight d. Name of the employee approving the flight e. List of employees assigned to the flight 2. The PIC shall complete any applicable Incident/Offense Reports or Case Supplements. F. VIDEO AND RECORDINGS: 1. Real-time or near real-time video may be captured and/or distributed via electronic means. The video is viewable by the operator of the UAS utilizing a monitor at the ground control station. The video data may also be distributed to external monitors by cable or other methods to personnel. a. Viewers of the live video stream in an Emergency Operations Center or other operational environments are not authorized to record, distribute, or disclose information gained from viewing the video stream without prior Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 9 of 11 approval of the watch commander, incident commander, or UAS Team commander, and only as needed for operational necessity. 2. Any case-related video recordings collected as a result of a deployment will be submitted to the Property and Evidence Unit. Video collected will be preserved until no longer needed for prosecution, appeals, or administrative purposes as per the Multimedia Recording Systems SOP 84.10. 3. The release of any images or video captured by a UAS will be in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Florida statutes. G. MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT: 1. UAS pilots may have one or more UAS assigned to him/her and will be responsible for conducting weekly software updates, maintaining the cleanliness of the UAS, and ensuring that the UAS are in operational condition according to the manufacturer’s specifications. 2. Inspections on UAS will be conducted at the direction of the UAS Team commander or his/her designee in accordance with manufacturer recommendations when available. 3. Any issues that arise during maintenance that cannot be resolved by routine methods shall be forwarded through the UAS Team commander for further technical support. H. EQUIPMENT AND STORAGE: 1. All UAS, batteries, and related equipment shall be removed from vehicles when employees are off duty. Certain equipment designated by the UAS Team commander may be stored in a vehicle; however, it must be secured in an approved manner (such as inside a vault). 2. All pilots shall take precautions to prevent damage and theft of equipment. When not in use, equipment shall be stored inside the responsible employee’s residence in a safe and secure location, or in designated UAS Team areas. 3. It shall be each pilot’s responsibility to ensure all assigned equipment is maintained in working condition according to the manufacturer’s specifications. 4. Batteries shall not be subjected to excessive heat or other conditions which are contrary to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 10 of 11 Approved: Michele Miuccio Chief of Police Effective: July 23, 2019 Revised: March 9, 2022 Date: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team and UAS Operations SOP No. 46.14 Page 11 of 11