Program Unmanned Aircraft in Agriculture: Flight Operations and FAA Certification Process * 1) Background. Wayne Woldt, Ph.D., P.E. Department of Biological Systems Engineering School of Natural Resources * 2) Flight Operations. * 3) FAA Certification * Aircraft registration * Remote pilot certificate Precision Ag CMDC August 2, 2017 UNL-ENREC * 4) Touch on aviation safety * This printed version has fewer slides than the presentation version Motivation - Flight Operations (VRI) are * Unmanned aircraft will be legal to fly * Expected to benefit production agriculture * New dimension in early detection of stress * Benefits to management of land and production * Federal Aviation Administration regulates UAS * New suas rules were finalized on August 29, 2016 * Aerial view offers a strategic advantage Unmanned Aircraft Systems The Aircraft / Sensors Elevator Tempest by UASUSA - 11 foot wingspan - 10 to 15 pound payload - 40 mph cruise - 1.5 hour flight duration 2.3 horsepower motor Rudder Flaps Ailerons * FLIR Tau 2 thermal sensor * Mica-sense multi-spectral * 3-D printed sensor mount - Early detection - Moisture stress - Irrigation mgt. * Mention of any product or trade name does not constitute endorsement 1
Sensors: A Closer Look Sensors: A Closer Look Sensors: A Closer Look Ground Station and Autopilot Blackswift Technologies - 3 axis IMU - GPS with WAAS - Static pressure - Indicated Air Speed Blackswift Technologies - Altitude (msl) - In-flight limits - Orbiting capable - Dynamic waypoints Airframe and Sensor Flight plan layout 330 feet agl 180 feet 180 feet Sensor trigger 2
Flight plan layout Ground Control Station Thermal & Visual Onboard Mission Sensor Feature mapping Image Log File Onboard Mission Sensor Latitude [deg] Longitude [deg] Altitude[m] Roll[deg] Pitch[deg] Yaw[deg] 41.18012237-96.46770477 476.75-1 171 14 41.17984008-96.46768951 477 7 0-178 41.17955017-96.46772766 476.24-3 0-172 41.17927169-96.46774291 477.05-1 -1 178 41.17899703-96.46775054 476.06 1-1 -178 41.17871856-96.46775817 476.32 6 0-176 41.1784439-96.4677658 475.52 1-1 -175 41.17816925-96.46778869 474.98 1 1-177 41.17788314-96.46781158 475.31-1 0-178 41.17759704-96.46781921 474.78 3 1-177 41.1773262-96.46783447 474.11 0 2-178 41.17704772-96.46784973 474.65-1 3 179 41.17677307-96.46784973 474.98 5 0-176 41.17649841-96.46785736 474.21 2 2-178 41.17621994-96.46788024 474.82-5 1-179 41.17593765-96.46788024 474.03 1 4 177 41.17577743-96.46598815 479.67-3 -5 8 41.1760559-96.46596527 478.6 0-5 5 41.17633438-96.46594238 476.82-1 -4 1 41.17661285-96.46594238 477.16 0-2 0 41.17688369-96.46595764 476.03 4-3 0 41.17716979-96.46594238 474.89-1 -1 4 41.17744827-96.46591949 476.51 0-2 1 41.17772674-96.46592712 475.24 5 0 3 41.1780014-96.46591186 475.46 3 0 4 41.17828369-96.46588897 475.04 0 0 3 41.17856597-96.46586608 475 1-1 3 41.17883682-96.46585083 475.53 1 0 2 41.17911529-96.46583557 476.08-2 -4 0 6 images reconstructed 3
Sensing: A Closer Look Onboard Mission Sensor -> Image Mosaic to field level NDVI - 8 cm resolution - 22 GB per 160 ac. FAA Certification Aircraft Registration * Aircraft registration * Remote pilot certificate * Crop spraying special considerations * Hobby and recreation no requirement * Commercial suas flight * Each suas require unique registration number attached * https://registermyuas.faa.gov * $5.00 fee Preparing for Exam Preparing for Exam * Exam administered by FAA approved test centers * http://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/media/test_centers.pdf * 60 questions. 14 yrs of age. 2 hrs maximum time. * Computerized. Minimum score of 70%. * Minimum allowable materials. FAA exam figures. UAS Topics Percentage of topics on exam 1. Regulations 15-25% 2. Airspace and Requirements 15-25% 3. Weather 11-16% 4. Loading and Performance 7-11% 5. Operations 35-45% * 14 days to retest if fail. $150.00 to take exam. 4
Overview of Part 107 Regs * Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 lbs. (25 kg). * Visual line-of-sight (VLOS) only; the unmanned aircraft must remain within VLOS of the remote pilot in command (R-PIC). * Small unmanned aircraft may not operate over any exposed persons not directly participating in the operation. Overview of Part 107 Regs * Daylight-only operations (official sunrise to official sunset, local time) * Must yield right-of-way to other aircraft, manned or unmanned. * Maximum airspeed of 100 mph (87 knots). * Maximum altitude of 400 feet above ground level (AGL) * or higher than 400 feet AGL, if remain within 400 feet of a structure. Overview of Part 107 Regs Brief Look at Airspace * Minimum weather visibility of 3 miles from ground control station. * No operations are allowed in Class A (18,000 feet & above) airspace. * Operations in Class B, C, D and E airspace are allowed with Air Traffic Control permission. * Operations in Class G airspace are allowed without ATC permission. 5
Brief Look at Airspace FAA Sectional closer look Overview of Part 107 Regs * Pilots of small UAS are considered Remote Pilot in Command. * A person operating a small UAS must either hold a remote pilot airman certificate with a small UAS rating or be under the direct supervision of a person who does hold a remote pilot certificate (remote pilot in command). Overview of Part 107 Regs * To qualify for a remote pilot certificate, a person must: * Demonstrate aeronautical knowledge by either: Passing an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAAapproved knowledge testing center; or Hold a part 61 pilot certificate other than student pilot, complete a flight review within the previous 24 months, and complete a small UAS online training course provided by the FAA. * Be vetted by the Transportation Security Administration. * Be at least 16 years old. 6
Airspace and Requirements * Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) * Airspace Classification * Airport Operations * Airport Markings and Signs * Collision Avoidance * Right of way Weather * Wind * Frontal Systems * Atmospheric Stability * Visibility and Clouds * Storms, Icing, Fog * Density Altitude * Weather Briefing, Reports, Forecasts and Charts 7
Loading and Performance * Determining Speed and Altitude * Loading * Weight and balance * Load Factor * Stalls * Performance Operations * Communication Procedures * Radio frequencies * Emergency Procedures * Aeronautical Decision Making * Physiology * Maintenance and Inspection Procedures 8
Now that you passed! Now that you passed! * Keep Exam Results and Complete IACRA form * Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application * Temporary certificate via IACRA after 2 to 4 days * TSA vetting is initiated * Permanent certificate mailed * Protect your certificate by following regulations Many Web Resources! Home Study * FAA resources free * Many books and printed resources low cost * Video and tutored courses low to moderate cost * Resident training -- high cost * Onsite training higher cost * Curriculum * King Schools Drone Pilot (15% discount) * ASA Remote Pilot Test Prep * Utilize CANVAS learning content management system * Coached learning environment * Capstone face-to-face session (optional) * Need to have King Schools completion certificate * http://nuaire.unl.edu Study and Training Crop Spraying Part 137 * Step 1. Remote Pilot Certificate * Step 2. How to fly unmanned aircraft * Flight operations and Autopilot * Step 3. Sensor selection and integration * Step 4. Data synthesis * More complex process to fly crop spraying drones * Pilot in Command needs Part 137 spray pilot certificate, and Part 107 unmanned aircraft certificate * FAA issued waiver to Part 137 regulations * FAA issued waiver to Part 107 regulations 9
Safety! Safety! * Other low altitude piloted aircraft? * Aerial applicators * Aircraft values $1 million to $1.5 million * Flying at 150 to 180 mph * Can be difficult to see * What can happen? * Other low altitude piloted aircraft? * Aerial applicators * Commercial photos * Utility inspection * Air ambulances * Other! Notice Safety! NU-AIRE Safety Beacon * Risk of collision between low flying aircraft and UAS! * Deploy at ground control station * Place beacon on top of field operations vehicle Whelen M-9 Red Strobes Research on Unmanned Aircraft * Agriculture = management of large land area * Unmanned aircraft offer unparalleled view * Opportunity for agricultural intensification * Protection of environment and ecosystems * Development of Nebraska Unmanned Aircraft Innovation, Research and Education (NU-AIRE) lab * Focused on development of multi-sensor array * Deployed on single engine, fixed wing aircraft * Pilot and UAS training 10