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TEES Impact

Preparing for UAS Flights at Texas A&M University

Both Texas A&M University and The Texas A&M University System have established requirements to ensure our compliance with federal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations for safely operating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on university property and/or on university business.

Due to our proximity to Easterwood Airport, campus properties are in stringently regulated/controlled airspace, which impacts our UAS operations, and limits flight ceiling height. The Supervising Authority (SA) Committee meets monthly to consider application requests. UAS flight request applications must be submitted to the Supervising Authority Committee for compliance review, a minimum of 15 days prior to planned flight operations. Approvals are granted by the designated university SA. Any unapproved UAS/UAV flights are disruptive to university operations and will be referred for appropriate disciplinary action.

Steps:

1. Texas A&M has established online resources for UAS requirements. Please familiarize yourself with the referenced requirements and materials at the following sites
2. Go to the UAS Flight Request Application site, complete the online UAS application form, attach your supporting documents, and click “submit.” Note that the system will not allow you to submit incomplete applications.

3. The SA Committee will evaluate your application request and supporting documents, and contact you with a list of any remaining documents that will be required. Complete applications will be reviewed by UAS staff, and placed on the SA Committee agenda for the next meeting.

4. If your project is such that your flight request application cannot be submitted prior to the 15 day deadline, please contact UAS staff at the Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) to discuss alternative options.

5. If you will be flying under an FAA Part 107 Certificate of Authorization (CoA) waiver, please submit your request directly to the FAA.

6. Supporting documentation includes the following if/as applicable:

  1. FAA CoA (Certificate of Authorization or Waiver); CoA types include:
    1. CoA for General Flight Operations
    2. CoA for Emergency Operations
    3. CoA for National Disaster Response
    4. CoA for Part 107 Waiver(s)
  2. FAA Remote Pilot Certificate
  3. Contingency Management Plan (as a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP))
  4. Mishaps Response Plan (as an SOP)
  5. Mission Brief and Safety Risk Matrix
  6. Project-Specific and Site-Specific Safety Plan
  7. Reportable Accident Report, for the past year and including current flight incidents
  8. UAS Maintenance Plan (as an SOP)
  9. Certificate of Insurance
  10. Liability Waiver(s)
  11. Current contract applicable to the proposed flight activity
  12. UAS on University or System Inventory?
  13. TAMU Inventory Asset Number for UAS(s)
  14. Flight Category:
    1. Part 107 Waiver CoA
    2. Hobbyist or Recreational Flight, including Educational Purpose
  15. Flight Requestor:
    1. Texas A&M University
    2. Texas A&M System
    3. Third Party Vendor or Contractor
    4. Other: __________________________
  16. UAS Flight Location:
    1. Texas A&M Campus Proper:
    2. Texas A&M-RELLIS:
    3. Other TAMUS campus:
    4. TAMUS Agency:
    5. Non-Texas A&M property:
  17. Texas A&M System UAS Flight Request Application completed, with support documents, and submitted to Supervising Authority (SA)
  18. Supervising Authority (SA) Approval, via confirming email from the Texas A&M Vice President for Safety & Security or designated authority
  19. Pedestrian Management Plan (as an SOP)
  20. Photo(s) of each UAS (drone) documenting exterior installation of the FAA Tail Number
  21. When using the new “Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability” (LAANC) System, capture and provide a screen shot of your LAANC Approval prior to flight(s)

7. FAA Part 107 Operating Rules; Summary from https://www.faa.gov/uas/ :

  1. Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 pounds, including payload, at takeoff
  2. Fly in Class G airspace*
  3. Keep the unmanned aircraft within visual line-of-sight*
  4. Fly at or below 400 feet*
  5. Fly during daylight or civil twilight*
  6. Fly at or under 100 mph*
  7. Yield right of way to manned aircraft*
  8. Do not fly directly over people*
  9. Do not fly from a moving vehicle, unless in a sparsely populated area*
  10. For more detailed operating rules, please see:
    1. Summary of the Part 107 Rule (PDF)
    2. Advisory Circular 107-2 (PDF)
    3. 14 CFR Part 107

*These rules are subject to FAA waiver.