Intro to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems & Recreational Drones

Controlled Airspace Controlled Airspace has defined dimensions within which Air Traffic Control (ATC) services are provided. The level of control varies with different classes of airspace.

Controlled Airspace

Controlled Airspace Controlled Airspace is under the control of an Air Traffic Control (ATC) center. Class B Class C Class D Class E A licensed remote pilot must obtain ATC permission to operate in Class B, C and D and lateral E airspace.

Class A Airspace Not an issue for drone pilots info only From 18,000 feet (MSL) to 60,00 feet (MSL) Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) only Altitudes are in Flight Levels not Altitude Flight Level 200 = 20,000 feet Flight Level 500 = 50,000 feet MSL = above Mean Sea Level AGL = Above Ground Level

Class B Airspace Busiest Airports and Airspace Surface to 10,000 feet (MGL) There are 37 Class B airports in the USA. The nearest Class B airports are: ORD Chicago O Hare MSP Minneapolis St. Paul STL Lambert St. Louis MCI Kansas City

Class C Airspace Operational control tower Radar approach control Minimum number of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations or passengers. Airspace usually consists of a surface area with a five nautical mile (NM) radius, an outer circle with a ten NM radius that extends from 1,200 feet to 4,000 feet (AGL)

Class D Airspace Operational control tower Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations Radar is optional May not have 24/7 operation Airspace usually consists of a surface area with a five nautical mile (NM) radius that extends to 2,500 feet (AGL)

Class E Airspace Class E Airspace is the most common Controlled Airspace and the most confusing! IFR aircraft must have ATC clearance to fly in Class E Airspace. VFR aircraft have a minimum required clearance with clouds. If an IFR aircraft comes out of the clouds, both aircraft have enough time to see and avoid the other aircraft.

Class G Airspace Uncontrolled Airspace No ATC From the ground to the bottom of the overlying Class E airspace Typically 700 feet to 1200 feet AGL (maximum of 14,500 feet MSL)

Waterloo Airport (ALO) Waterloo Airport is FAA Class D airspace. Class D airspace is typically around an airport with a functioning control tower, but without significant IFR approaches (usually because there is no scheduled commercial passenger service). Class D airspace is generally cylindrical in form and normally extends from the surface to 2,500 feet AGL (above ground level). On the chart, ALO is 3,400 feet above MSL (mean sea level) or 2527 AGL.

Waterloo Airport (ALO) Class E airspace is all the rest of the controlled airspace not already described. Most of this airspace is not near the surface, but aloft, where aircraft flying under IFR are in an en-route segment of flight. Over most of the country, the base of Class E airspace is at either 700 or 1,200 feet above the ground, so this isn t an issue for a small UAS operating at 400 feet and below. ALO has Class E airspace extending from the runways beyond the normal 4 NM (4.6 miles) radius down to ground level

Waterloo Airport (ALO)

Waterloo Regional Airport

RUNWAY NUMBERS Runway numbers are determined by rounding the magnetic compass bearing of the runway end to the nearest 10 degrees and truncating the last digit, meaning runways are numbered from 1 to 36... So if you're on runway 9, you're heading east (90 on a compass). The opposite end of runway 9 is numbered 27 (or 270 on a compass). If an airport has parallel runways, these would then be marked Left, Center and Right, e.g. 9L/9C/9R

Waterloo Regional Airport Runways 12/30 18/36 6/24

Waterloo Airport (ALO)

Aircraft Altitude (AGL) on Approach to Runway

Air Traffic Control (ATC) It is important to understand that an air traffic controller s primary responsibility is to separate traffic on the runway. Aircraft in the air must not rely on controllers for separation. Pilots are always responsible to see-and-avoid other aircraft. The smaller the aircraft is, the harder it is to see. Drones, because of their extremely small size are nearly impossible for pilots in the air to see-andavoid.

Aeronautical Chart Types Sectional Chart covers several states and provides information for VFR (Visual Flight Rules) Part 107 Drone Pilot Test covers Sectional Chart information. Terminal Area Chart covers Class B airspace En-Route Chart provides navigation information for IFR (Instrument Flight Rules)

Standard Airport Traffic Pattern for uncontrolled airports There are five different legs of the traffic pattern: Upwind, Crosswind, Downwind, Base and Final.

Special Use Airspace (SUAS) Prohibited Area charted as a P followed by a number (e.g., P-49). Examples of include Camp David and the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Restricted charted with an R followed by a number (e.g., R-4401). If hot, an ATC clearance is required. If cold, no clearance is required. Warning Area designated with a W followed by a number (e.g., W-237) is only found offshore. Military Operation Area (MOA) depicted on sectional, VFR terminal area charts with a name (e.g., Camden Ridge MOA ).

Special Use Airspace (SUAS) Alert depicted on aeronautical charts with an A followed by a number (e.g., A-211). May contain pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity. Pilots should exercise caution in alert areas. Controlled firing areas (CFAs) CFA activities are suspended when a spotter aircraft, radar or ground lookout position indicates an aircraft is approaching the area. There is no need to chart CFAs since they do not cause a nonparticipating aircraft to change its flightpath. VFR sectional charts depict MOA, restricted area, warning area and alert area information.

Special Area Of Operation (SAO) Military Training Route (MTR) routes used by military aircraft to maintain proficiency in tactical flying. Routes are identified as IFR (IR), and VFR (VR), followed by a number. MTRs with no segment above 1,500 feet AGL are identified by four number characters (e.g., IR1206, VR1207). MTRs that include one or more segments above 1,500 feet AGL are identified by three number characters (e.g., IR206, VR207. VFR sectional charts depict IR and VR areas.

Special Area Of Operation (SAO) Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is issued to designate a TFR. Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations Sites are frequently depicted on sectional charts. Published VFR routes for transitioning around, under, or through some complex airspace. These routes are generally found on VFR terminal area planning charts. Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSAs) areas with additional radar services. The purpose is to provide separation between IFR operations and VFR aircraft.

Special Area Of Operation (SAO) National Security Areas (NSAs) established airspace where there is a need for increased security and safety of ground facilities. Pilots are requested to voluntarily avoid flying through these areas. Local Airport Advisory (LAA) automated weather reporting with voice broadcasting and a continuous ASOS/AWOS data display

Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) LAANC (pronounced LANCE ) enables drone pilots access to controlled airspace near airports through near real-time processing of airspace authorizations below approved altitudes in controlled airspace. Drone pilots can use applications developed by approved UAS Service Suppliers to access the LAANC capability.

Waterloo Airspace

Waterloo LAANC Area

Waterloo LAANC Grid

Current LAANC Service Providers Aeronyde Airbus AirMap AiRXOS Altitude Angel Converge DJI Harris Corporation Kittyhawk Project Wing Skyward Thales Group UASidekick Unifly

GEOFENCING Geofencing the use of GPS technology to create a virtual geographic boundary, enabling software to trigger a response when a mobile device enters or leaves a particular area. In January 2015, a DJI Phantom drone went astray and landed in a tree on the wrong side of the White House fence, leading to much alarm. DJI announced they would issue a mandatory firmware update for its products that would contain built-in geofencing limits within which their updated GPS-enabled drones simply would not fly.

Geofence Zones Restricted Zones. In these Zones, which appear red on the map, users will be prompted with a warning and flight is prevented. Example Restricted Zone: Black Hawk County Jail Authorization Zones. In these Zones, which appear yellow on the map, users will be prompted with a warning and flight is limited by default. Authorization Zones may be unlocked by authorized users using a verified account. Example Authorization Zone: Model aircraft flying club near an airport.

Geofence Zones Enhanced Warning Zones. In these Zones which appear green on the map, you will be prompted by at the time of flight to unlock the zone using the same steps as in an Authorization Zone, but you do not require a verified account or an internet connection at the time of your flight. Example Enhanced Warning Zone: A farm which is 3 miles away from an airport. Warning Zones. In these Zones, which may not necessarily appear on the map, users will be prompted with a warning message. Example Warning Zone: A national park or monument.

Geofence Zones