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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 4/25/2017 - Information From Darin Atteberry Re: Memorandum From Jeremy Yonce Re: Larimer County Unmanned Aircraft System Summary & UpdatePatrol Division 2221 South Timberline Road PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2189 970.221-6639 - fax www.fcgov.com M E M O R A N D U M Date: March 28, 2017 To: John Hutto, Chief Mike Trombley, Deputy Chief From: Jeremy Yonce, Lieutenant RE: Larimer County Unmanned Aircraft System Summary & Update The Larimer County Unmanned Aircraft System (LCUAS) Team includes emergency services personnel from Poudre Fire Authority, Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, Larimer County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Collins Police Services, Loveland Police Department, and the Colorado State University Police Department. The team has been working together for over two years to implement a county-wide emergency services UAS program. It is anticipated that the program will be ready to be fully operational by mid to late summer. Background: In late 2013 and continuing through 2014, emergency services agencies in Larimer County engaged in conversations about, and began investigating the use of, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for purposes such as fire investigations, search and rescue, traffic accident investigations, hazardous materials incidents, and crime scene investigations. It became apparent that complex and rapidly changing FAA regulations warranted the creation of a county-wide emergency services UAS team in order to leverage intellectual and personnel resources as we pursued an operational program. In August 2015, the partnering agencies entered into a formal Intergovernmental Agreement with each other and with a private company, Unmanned Experts (UMEX). The agreement stipulated that UMEX would assist the LCUAS team in obtaining a Certificate Of Authorization (COA) from the FAA to conduct training at the PFA and LFRA training grounds, provide a 40 hour Safe Flight class, as well as ongoing training and support, for one year. In December 2015, Lt. Yonce and Laurie Kadrich provided a presentation on the LCUAS team and generally the future use of unmanned aircraft systems by the City of Fort Collins to the City Council Futures Committee. April 20, 2017 TO: Mayor & City Council FROM: Darin Atteberry FYI /sek Training and Program Development: Over the past eighteen months, the LCUAS team has focused on developing a program that not only meets all applicable FAA requirements, but one which sets the highest standards of training and operation. Currently, there are three FAA authorizations under which governmental entities can operate unmanned aircraft systems: 1. Rule 107 2. Blanket COA (Certificate of Authorization) 3. Jurisdictional COA Both Rule 107 and the Blanket COA allow flight operations during daytime hours and outside of a five mile radius of a controlled airspace (the Northern Colorado Regional airport is the only controlled airspace in Larimer County). The LCUAS program already meets all FAA requirements to conduct mission flights under Rule 107 and the Blanket COA, which was obtained last year. Fort Collins Police Services is currently conducting only training flights. Each of the participating agencies has purchased a Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) for training purposes. The team anticipates having a Jurisdictional COA within a few months, which would allow for flights during nighttime hours and within five miles of the airport. There are approximately two pilots for each of the participating agencies. Each of those pilots has either obtained, or is pursuing, their Rule 107 Remote Pilot Certification from the FAA. Additionally, although not required by the FAA, each pilot has completed a 40 hour Safe Flight class. Additional team training is conducted at least monthly. The team is committed to the highest standards of training and operations. To that end, a significant amount of time has been committed to the development of comprehensive written Operational Guidelines that ensure not only compliance with applicable FAA regulations, but also establish best practices in the operation of UAS in emergency services. The guidelines also clearly outline what the team will use UAS for and, equally important, what privacy safeguards will be followed when operating a UAS. Next Steps and Timeline: A draft LCUAS team IGA and Operational Guidelines have been submitted to the attorneys for each of the participating agencies. Following any proposed revisions and once they are approved and signed, the team will be ready to deploy on operational flights, subject to operational approval of each individual agency. We are hoping and anticipating this will be within the next 3-4 months. During that time, the team will be conducting scenario-based training on the use of UAS for structure fires, hazardous materials incidents, wildland fires, search and rescue missions, water rescue mission, tactical operations, and traffic accident, crime scene and fire investigations. The team is currently working with Public Information Officers from each agency to formulate a public information plan, which will include press releases, inviting press to a demonstration flight, and making the Operational Guidelines available to the public. The Coloradoan made an initial inquiry last week, so there is the possibility of press coverage sooner rather than later.