The operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Model Aircraft is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and by relevant state laws and local ordinances.

Basics

Flying a small Unmanned Aerial System (Drone or UAV) can be fun and informative for a variety of legitimate College purposes. There are, however, a number of things to consider before flying at the College.

What sort of projects are possible?

• Video production for which rigging an aerial camera overhead would be prohibitive.

• Environmental studies of the natural and built environment

• Ecological reconnaissance

• Aerial survey of building projects and utility location markings

• Campus foliage from unique views

• Commercial video projects

• Other projects as determined by the College

Important factors in all of these potential projects are the safety of the campus community, neighbors, public and anyone involved in flying; the safety of the airspace (See FAA below); the safe and effective use of the equipment; and finally, the most effective and productive gathering of video and data from the flight as possible.

How do you get started?  

Please read below for more information or contact Doug Willen (willen@swarthmore.edu, x-7787) in ITS for more information. 

Swarthmore's Quadcopter

Swarthmore ITS has a 3D Robotics (3DR) Solo Quadcopter that can be borrowed by qualified faculty, staff, and students for use in academically-oriented projects. The Swarthmore ITS Quadcopter is a 3D Robotics Solo, outfitted with a GoPro Hero 4 Black video/still camera and a stabilizing gimbal designed to keep that camera steady as the quadcopter navigates. The gimbal also allows the operator to move the camera angle between 0 deg (straight down) and 90 deg. straight forward viewing angle. The Go Pro Hero 4 Black can film in resolutions up to 4k, and can take both wide angle, as well as narrower angle video and still shots, controlled by the iPad, iPhone or Android device to which you have linked it. Both the quadcopter and the remote control have separate 1 GHz processors to allow for smart operation, and ease of use, and the quadcopter will exhibit amazingly smooth flight and stability, even in the face of significant wind conditions during flight. It operates with the GPS satellite system to maintain position and to return to home, should the connection between the quadcopter and controller be lost.

FAA Regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration governs activity in the nation's airspace, including the air above Swarthmore College. Swarthmore College is within the inner-most region of the Class B (Bravo) airspace around Philadelphia International Airport (Bryn Mawr & Haverford are not in this zone).  This means that between the surface (ground) and 7,000 ft up, no-one is allowed to fly without communicating with – and for drones/sUAS's, receiving a waiver from -- Air Traffic Control at Philadelphia International Airport.  Such waiver requests can take from three weeks up to and possibly longer than 90 days to receive, so advanced planning is crucial.

Called a small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) by the FAA, the use of such devices is subject to College, local, county, state and federal regulations. In particular, as of August 29th, 2016, the FAA requires a licensed Remote Pilot certificate holder with an sUAS endorsement to be responsible for any flights undertaken for work, compensation, etc. under 14 CFR Part 107 (United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14: Aeronautics and Space, Part 107: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems). Hobby pilots are not subject to all of the same rules as licensed Remote Pilots, nor do they have the same privileges, but they do still have to follow the airspace requirements that currently prohibit flying in the airspace over Swarthmore.  

All members of the College community are personally responsible for complying with FAA regulations, local, state and federal laws, and Swarthmore College policies.

Additionally, any sUAS (drone) that is flown through the College airspace must be registered with the FAA (which generally requires the registration of all such aircraft that weigh between 0.55lbs and 55lbs.). In case you lose control of the aircraft, this allows identification and retrieval of the quadcopter back to you. Any sUAS that you intend to operate above College property must be fully registered with the FAA, whether it is one owned by the College or a personally owned aircraft. Swarthmore ITS's 3DR Solo Quadcopter is registered with the FAA.

The FAA has more regulations (see below under Safety) that further restrict and guide small Unmanned Aircraft Operation, under Part 107.

Local and College Permissions

Even when you have FAA approval, local authorities, including Swarthmore College, often have policies about the flying of unmanned aerial systems within their borders, in their parks and in their airspace.

Operators must carry written evidence of permission at all times while operating a small UAS on campus that must be presented to any College official or representative with control or jurisdiction over the activity, upon request. The College reserves the right to request additional documentation as a condition of approval and operation.

• Students - Students who would like to fly a drone on the Swarthmore College campus must first get approval from the Dean's Office, or from a faculty member. They must then submit detailed information to Public Safety and the Communications Office about their proposed flight location(s), including dates and proposed time of operation, for approval at least one month before requesting FAA approval for the proposed flight(s).

• Faculty/Staff - Similarly, faculty and staff members must notify and seek approval from Public Safety and the Communications Office for any proposed flights they may be considering at least one month before requesting FAA permission for the planned dates and times of operation.

• Members of the public who wish to fly in the airspace above Swarthmore College must first seek and receive approval from the Office of Communications, who will coordinate with Swarthmore Public Safety in planning for and accommodating any approved flights. 

• Currently, all nearby parks restrict unmanned aerial vehicle operation, including local township, county, and state parks.

Safety

Safety is critical in the planning, preparation, and flight operations with your sUAS.

• Make sure your aircraft and controller are in good repair, fully functional to the manufacturers specifications, and fully charged. Unbalanced or damaged aircraft have a much higher likelihood of going out of control.

• Always give way to other aircraft

• Have extra crew to help with tasks: Observer, operator, crowd control (if needed), etc.

• No flying under the influence of anything that may affect your ability to operate safely (i.e. no drugs, alcohol or even Benedryl™). In fact, the FAA rules specify that pilots must not have consumed any alcohol within 8 hours of the flight.

• No flying over people, or above a stadium/event

• Always fly lower than 400 ft. above ground level (AGL)

• No flying at night

• No flying from a moving motor vehicle.

• Do not transport anything with your aircraft, other than a still or video camera designed to be used with the sUAS to which it is attached

• Do not transport any hazardous materials with your sUAS

• Always have an observer using "naked eye" view.  First Person View (i.e. FPV or camera view), and/or through binoculars is not adequate to safely monitor the sky around you for possible collision or other safety hazards.

Privacy

• Parks - many restrict sUAS use, and nearly all parks near Swarthmore, at the borough, township, county, and state level explicitly restrict unmanned aerial systems. Even if you are in a park where flying is allowed, are you filming people who have given their consent? 

• Who owns the land? If it's private, make sure you have written permission to be there and to fly above it.  If there may be issues with neighbors, go out of your way to communicate with them ahead of time.

• Filming others?  Get written permission!  Make sure your actors or film subjects are aware of the filming.  If you intend to film in a public space, please consult with the Dean's office, Public Safety and the Communications office about possible issues of privacy and community notification. Coordinate with Public Safety if there is any need to restrict or hinder general public access to a space or for safe operation and landing.

• Stay away from windows!  No-one wants, nor expects, to have someone looking in their windows, particularly on upper floors of a building.  

• Check State and local laws (Borough, Township, County, etc.) Many jurisdictions are issuing ordinances that may impact your proposed flight.  Be prepared by consulting with the appropriate authorities ahead of time to make sure you are complying with local restrictions.

• Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration Best Practices documentation (NTIA).  This is a general resource for folks who will be doing any sort of video recording in public spaces or venues.  It sets the standard and expectations for such operation, including with the use of unmanned aerial recording systems.

• In general, use some common sense and think, what would a reasonable person expect?  If a reasonable person would expect privacy in a particular situation, then you should not be filming them.

Preparing to Fly

There are many elements that go into preparing and planning for a flight, and most of them must happen well ahead of time.  In order to maintain the safest, most respectful, and most effective use of your equipment and your time in the air, careful planning and preparing your equipment and crew are critical.  There are a number of things to consider as you plan your flight. (See the Checklist below.)

Purpose

What are you trying to achieve with this flight? Plan the elements and path of your flight to best achieve those goals. Remember, you have limited battery time for the flight, about 20 minutes per battery, and it takes a while to get them back to full charge once depleted. Since most flights are organized around the camera, think through what shots will be best for your purpose. What are the obstacles to a quality video? Stray people? Branches in the way? Wind? Time of year? Weather factors, like rain or snow? What viewpoint will give you the information you need?  Do you need to take a reference shot to prepare for a measurement? Are you documenting change? If so, do you have the plan in place to fly multiple times under the same conditions, and with the same flight path? What needs to be arranged to allow you to successfully complete your flight, and therefore your camera/documentation objective?

Airspace (Where You Plan to Fly)

The first question you need to ask yourself is where do you intend to fly. After securing the permission of the landholder over whose property you intend to fly, you should also consult with the sectional chart from the FAA, or if close to a major airport like Philadelphia International (KPHL), then the Terminal Air Chart (TAC) for that area. These charts are available from the FAA here: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/vfr/  but there are also real-time resources that incorporate these charts along with the FAA's Notices To Airmen (NOTAMS), Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and other important information for planning your flights. One good example is this online resource: https://skyvector.com/  Note that in this area, Swarthmore College is near the border of the New York and Washington Sectional Charts. Better information from the Philadelphia TAC is available for the basics. You should ALWAYS check for NOTAMS immediately before your proposed flight, just in case something comes up. The Skyvector website: https://skyvector.com is a great resource for this last minute check.

These charts tell you what sort of airspace your proposed flight location is in, and therefore, what sort of rules and restrictions might apply to your flight. As mentioned above, at Swarthmore is within the inner-most part of the Philadelphia International Airport Class B airspace, which means that we are severely restricted in what can fly here, when flights can happen, and who can request a waiver from the FAA/Philadelphia Air Traffic Control (ATC).

More important is to visually survey the location you intend to fly well before you need to actually fly there. This usually means a physical visit to the site to check conditions, and note any obstructions (tall trees, towers), and locate your launch and landing zones (plus your emergency landing areas). Additionally, it's an opportunity to figure out whether there will be any issues with spectators (quadcopters frequently draw a small crowd, if used in a public space), traffic, or other people nearby.

Aircraft Condition

It is expected that your aircraft is in nearly perfect condition, at least to the manufacturer's specifications. If you have crashed your aircraft, it is incumbent on you to make and document any repairs needed to bring it to fully compliant and operational status. This can include replacing rotor blades (most common), motors/motor pods, landing gear, wireless connections, the gimbal for your camera, the camera itself, batteries, remote control system, and any other elements that might impact your flight. The FAA would also like you to track usage of the aircraft, including logging the hours flown, documenting all maintenance (another log), and maintaining a maintenance schedule that can prevent future problems. A problem in the air is many times worse than a problem on the ground and can cost you not just your permission to fly or any FAA waiver, but can also cost you a license, if you have one, and may harm other's ability to fly either the College's aircraft or anything in the space you were flying when the problem occurred.

Crew

It is a great idea to have more than one person involved in your flight.  No matter what, however, the Pilot-In-Command is the one ultimately responsible for everything about the aircraft and the operation (flight).  Some examples of crew:  

• The operator: the person handling the controls of the aircraft (this person doesn't have to be the same person who holds the Remote Pilot Certificate).

• The observer: the person who can keep a visual (naked eye) view of the aircraft and warn of possible dangers from other airborne hazards, such as other aircraft to which you must defer, birds, bats, and other air born animals.

• Support staff - managing batteries, video production, documentation of activity, etc. (in other words, anyone else supporting the flight operation).

Weather

Plan to check the weather frequently, starting at least a week or so out from your proposed flight. While local news stations can give you good ideas of the overall weather you can expect, a small UAS pilot needs to worry about more than is just covered in a standard weather forecast. In particular, you need to worry about what the winds will be like in your flight area, relatively close to the ground. You really don't need to know what the temperatures will "feel like," except for your and your crew's clothing choices. More importantly, you need to know about the wind conditions within 400 feet of the ground, if any precipitation is expected that will impact your flight, if the weather will be calm or turbulent (and remember, that nice clear days are often full of turbulent weather). To gain better weather information, you should check multiple times over the days leading up to your flight, and always check right before you fly. One great source of weather information is the government's weather source for pilots: https://aviationweather.gov/

Preflight Checklist

Before you even get close to your flight, you need to check a number of things to have a safe and successful flight operation.  

Included in this list will be:

1. Equipment (Aircraft, controllers, video equipment, radio, etc.)
   
   

   1. For Swarthmore's 3DR Solo quadcopter, there are 5 different sets of batteries to charge and check. 

      1. Flight power batteries (take about an hour each to charge fully)

      2. Remote Control batteries

      3. Camera batteries (for the GoPro Hero 4 Black - we have several with the flight kit)

      4. Monitoring device (iPad Mini) batteries - these wear out fairly quickly and are needed to allow you to correctly monitor the camera on the drone.

      5. UHF Radio Batteries - to monitor the air traffic control tower

   2. Is the aircraft in good working order?  Do you have spare propellers in case of a minor crash?

   3. Does the video camera work and does it have clean flash cards?

   4. Do you have a working radio to monitor Air Traffic?

2. Weather - check https://aviationweather.gov/ (See above)

3. Crew Condition - Is anyone tired? Has anyone had alcohol in the past 8 hours?

4. Airspace (Permissions & Authorization)

   1. Do you have the property owner's permission to fly where you intend?

   2. If at Swarthmore, do you have the College's permission, AND do you have an authorization from the Philadelphia Air Traffic Control?

   3. Will you be flying near people?  If so, do you have a plan to keep them away from your flight operations?

   4. Are you near any airports you might need to notify of your flight?

   5. Are there any interfering WiFi or other radio sources that might disrupt your aircraft control?

   6. Do you have a safe and level takeoff and landing location with controlled access (if needed).

Qualifying to Fly

To fly a quadcopter or other small Unmanned Aerial System at Swarthmore College, you must have or be under the supervision of someone who has an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. Only a licensed Pilot or Remote Pilot with an sUAS Certificate is allowed to communicate with the Philadelphia Air Traffic Control (ATC) or to request an airspace waiver to allow for drone flights in the air above Swarthmore College. In other words, hobbyist pilots need to work with a licensed pilot to fly here. If you plan to fly in airspace that is not as carefully regulated, using the College's equipment, then you must confer with the appropriate ITS staff to assure that you are competent to use Swarthmore College's quadcopter. This will be handled on a case-by-case basis, as needed.