DRONES + AIRPORTS: BUZZ AROUND HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ACI-NA Legal Affairs Spring Conference Elizabeth Wharton, Senior Asst. City Attorney elizabeth.wharton@atl.com
ATL Activities UAS Part 107 Operations contractors, airlines Collaborations with FAA (incl. ATCT), DOA Safety Risk Assessment Safety Risk Management Document Pending COA/Waiver Application
ATL Considerations Safety (physical, operations, systems) Risk Management (minimize risks, insurance) Efficiencies Traffic Management (Detect Identify- Respond) Privacy Data Management
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Aircraft System (Ground Station, Command/Control) Software (Image: Altavian)
Regulatory Landscape: In Motion 1. Hobbyist 2. Commercial 3. Government (non-military)
Commercial Operations: Part 107 Remote Pilot requirements: Must be at least 16 years of age Must hold a remote pilot airman certificate with a small UAS rating or be under the direct supervision of someone holding a remote pilot airman certificate Must pass the applicable Transportation Security Administration (TSA) vetting UAS requirements: Must weigh less than 55 lbs.* Must undergo pre-flight check by remote pilot in command (a.k.a. you or the person supervising the operation) Location requirements (click here for more details on these airspace classes): Operations in Class B, C, D and E airspace are allowed with the required Air Traffic Controller (ATC) permission Operations in Class G airspace are allowed without ATC permission
Part 107 Operating Rules Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 pounds, including payload, at takeoff Fly in Class G airspace* Keep the unmanned aircraft within visual line-of-sight* Fly at or below 400 feet* Fly during daylight or civil twilight* Fly at or under 100 mph* Yield right of way to manned aircraft* Do not fly directly over people* Do not fly from a moving vehicle, unless in a sparsely populated area* * These rules are subject to waiver. (faa.gov)
Part 107 provides for the option to waive certain requirements if the FAA determines that the proposed operation can be performed safely. Waivable sections of part 107: Operation from a moving vehicle or aircraft ( 107.25) * Daylight operation ( 107.29) Visual line of sight aircraft operation ( 107.31) * Visual observer ( 107.33) Operation of multiple small unmanned aircraft systems ( 107.35) Yielding the right of way ( 107.37(a)) Operation over people ( 107.39) Operation in certain airspace ( 107.41) Operating limitations for small unmanned aircraft ( 107.51) * The FAA will not waive this section to allow the carriage of property of another by aircraft for compensation or hire. (faa.gov)
ATL Statistics Owner/Operator: City of Atlanta / Department of Aviation Total Airport Area: 4,700 acres Terminal building and 5 concourses 211 gates (171 domestic and 40 international gates) 5 Parallel Runways >$64.3 billion Economic Impact for the metro Atlanta area 2017 Stats: 879,560 flight operations 103,902,992 million passengers
ATL: Part 107 Operations First UAS flight in Class B airspace under Part 107 (2016) First UAS flight over a commercial service airport runway (2017) First Nighttime + 5 th Runway (Mayor s 2017 5K Runway Road Race)
ATL: Part 107 Operations Capital Construction Projects Runway Mapping and Inspections Special Events: 5K Runway Race Aircraft and Aerial Inspections
Capital Construction Project Key Stakeholder Involvment: Department of Aviation Airport Communications Center (C4) Atlanta Police Department Atkins/3DR Federal Aviation Administration Airport Security
Commercial Runway Inspection Key Stakeholder Involvment: Department of Aviation Airport Operations Michael Baker Intl Federal Aviation Administration Public Relations
Commercial Runway Inspection: Cont. Flight Operational Restrictions Notifications Challenges
Commercial Runway Inspection: Cont.
Special Events: Mayor s 5K on the 5 th Runway Race Key Stakeholder Involvment: Department of Aviation Airport Operations Airport Communications Center Michael Baker Intl Federal Aviation Administration Department of Law Public Relations
Special Events: Mayor s 5K on the 5 th Runway Race - Cont.
Capital Construction Projects Ongoing UAS Operations Key Stakeholder Involvment: Department of Aviation Department of Law Airport Operations C.W. Matthews Federal Aviation Administration
Capital Construction Projects Ongoing UAS Operations (Cont.) Topography
Capital Construction Projects Ongoing UAS Operations (Cont.) Mosaic Image
Capital Construction Projects Ongoing UAS Operations (Cont.)
Airfield Aerial Demonstration Key Stakeholder Involvment: Department of Aviation Department of Law Airport Operations Airbus Aerial Federal Aviation Administration
Airfield Aerial Demonstration Cont.
ATL: SRA to SRMD Safety Risk Assessment Panel Pre-planning Meetings 2-Day Panel 18 attendees Airport, FAA, Airline, UAS Operators, Research Safety Risk Management Document Defines Identified Risks (7 Hazards) Risk Mitigations and Management
DRONES + AIRPORTS: BUZZ AROUND HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ACI-NA Legal Affairs Spring Conference Elizabeth Wharton, Senior Asst. City Attorney elizabeth.wharton@atl.com