The Public Safety agency that I work for has just submitted an application for a COA with some interesting stipulations.
This COA which would have us operating under Part 91 (As a Public Aircraft) also has waivers as part of it and is the newest COA available from the FAA Public Safety folks.
I share it here as maybe this is insight into BVLOS in the future in Part 108.
Some of the highlights of this COA with COWs.
Unlike our previous COA, we do not have to submit monthly flight reports, but we must keep and maintain them, and present to the FAA upon request.
Unlike our previous COA it is not mandatory to submit a NOTAM/Unmanned Aircraft Operating Area(But we will for known events)
There is a lot of other items in this, but the above is the highlights.
The best part of this is the whole process has been streamlined into a packet that can be completed in a few hours and is now good for 4 years. If this is not enough for an agency, you can apply for enhancements such as BVLOS up to 400 ft (With Radar system or AI camera system to alert of manned aviation), operating your aircraft from inside a building using LTE and as mentioned Air Space Authorizations for controlled air space.
Hopefully Part 108 comes sooner than later and applies these concepts for all.
The hard part now starts, in getting all members to fully read, comprehend and apply all of this.
This COA which would have us operating under Part 91 (As a Public Aircraft) also has waivers as part of it and is the newest COA available from the FAA Public Safety folks.
I share it here as maybe this is insight into BVLOS in the future in Part 108.
Some of the highlights of this COA with COWs.
- Operations Over People and Moving Vehicles
- With a Category Drone or
- With a ASTM 3322 Parachute Recovery System or
- not operate any lower or in
proximity to human beings or
moving vehicles necessary to
accomplish the operation and
will not operate over people for
any duration of time longer than
it is necessary to safeguard that
human life;
- BVLOS - Beyond Visual Line of Sight
- No maximum distance given (Performance based)
- Uses Obstructed Shielding Concept
- Must remain below 200 ft
- May travel above 200 ft within 100 foot of an obstacle but then must stay below 400 ft
- Must have a non-internet ADS-B receiver (DJi Air Sense is accepted, Flight Radar 24 is not accepted unless you have your own on site antenna as part of it)
- Must have anti-collision lights on, even in daylight
- Some other stipulations
- Ability to operate in Controlled Air Space without using LAANC as long as you remain below the Facility Map respective grids.
- This part can be adjusted with a full time Air Space Authorization in FAA Drone Zone
- Mandatory conversations with any manned aviation in your area (For us Coast Guard, Trauma Center Helipad, Tourism Helicopter etc.)
Unlike our previous COA, we do not have to submit monthly flight reports, but we must keep and maintain them, and present to the FAA upon request.
Unlike our previous COA it is not mandatory to submit a NOTAM/Unmanned Aircraft Operating Area(But we will for known events)
There is a lot of other items in this, but the above is the highlights.
The best part of this is the whole process has been streamlined into a packet that can be completed in a few hours and is now good for 4 years. If this is not enough for an agency, you can apply for enhancements such as BVLOS up to 400 ft (With Radar system or AI camera system to alert of manned aviation), operating your aircraft from inside a building using LTE and as mentioned Air Space Authorizations for controlled air space.
Hopefully Part 108 comes sooner than later and applies these concepts for all.
The hard part now starts, in getting all members to fully read, comprehend and apply all of this.
