Breadcrumb
Drones / UAS
Thinking about using a drone in your research? Here are some key resources and requirements, whether on or off campus, to consider in advance of your planned flight. Be sure to review the Campus Policy on the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) - “Drones” for information regarding compliance with FAA Part 107, guidance on completing a Flight Operations Proposal for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Review Committee’s approval, and a Pre-Flight UAS Checklist.
If you plan to purchase a drone, please coordinate with your Post-Award Grant Analyst and ITS to ensure it is properly recorded and tagged as an asset, particularly if it will be purchased with Federal funding or will be used in conjunction with federally owned assets. Depending on the type of drone and planned usage, there may be numerous compliance elements to consider. This will also be a good time to consider potential insurance needs for a new drone. See the Purchasing page, especially the Technology Purchases section, for more guidance on how to buy a drone with compliance and efficiency in mind.
Coordinating with your Post-Award Grant Analyst prior to purchase will also ensure compliance with both funder and SPF requirements.
A Part 107 Commercial Pilot License is a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allows individuals to operate drones for commercial purposes in the US. Researchers seeking to operate drones as part of their research typically fall into this category, and if so, drone operators must have this commercial license.
If you are considering drone use as part of your research and do not already have a certificated pilot, please be aware that applying for a new pilot license can take a significant amount of time. The FAA suggests submitting a pilot license request a minimum of 60 days prior to the proposed operation date.
- FAA Guidance on becoming a Certificated Remote Pilot under Part 107
- CSU guidelines for applying for a Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the FAA for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (a.k.a "drones")
Prior to flight, a Flight Operations Plan must be submitted to and approved by the campus UAS Review Committee. Each section of the Flight Operations Proposal Template should be fully completed before submitting to David.Marshall@humboldt.edu for Review Committee approval. SkyVector may be a useful tool in designing your flight plan, with instructions available here. Review the instructions identified in the Campus Policy on Drone Use for more information.
For any questions about the approval process or general drone use, please contact David.Marshall@humboldt.edu.
- Logic Flow Chart to determine which procedures to use for approval of the Use of drones for Academic Purposes and Flying Outdoors.
- FAA Part 107 Guidance for Drove pilots flying under the rule known as Part 107
- FAA Drone Resources for various drone use cases
- Pre-Flight UAS Checklist is a helpful document to complete AFTER your flight plan has been approved but prior to a drone flight.
- Directions for Using SkyVector, a helpful tool for drafting your Flight Plan.
- Drone Pilot License Resources from the Campus Aviation Club
- Helpful FAQ from UC Merced