Hi folks,
I need some input on protocol for dealing with pilots at a a small non-tower airstrip. In the past I've obtained waivers to fly in zero grid airspace in proximity to larger airports, and communicated with towers by phone in advance of my flights, but this situation is new to me so any advice is appreciated. Here are the details:
I've been contracted to fly orbitals and ortho mapping, recurring weekly for 26 weeks, over a construction site that is literally at the end of the runway. The airspace on the construction site is class G. It's such a small airfield that I don't even get a no-fly warning when I open GS Pro or Go4. All the planes are small single engine or crop dusters.
The first week I flew, several planes came over my location on landing approach. Fortunately my drone was on the ground at the time, but they were all at about the same altitude I fly, around 300' AGL. After that, I reached out to the airport admins to inform them about my presence. They asked that I monitor the CTAF and announce myself if I hear anything related to aircraft approaching or taking off from their field. I told them Part 107 doesn't allow me to talk on the radio. They told me that not all the pilots who fly in and out of their field are good about announcing themselves, so just monitoring might not be sufficient. They said they would give me authorization to announce myself and communicate on the radio.
Questions:
-Can they grant this authorization for me to communicate with pilots, or does that have to come from the FAA or someplace higher than the local airfield?
-I've never had occasion to talk on the radio. If they permit me, what would be the protocol for announcing my presence? How should I identify myself, my drone and my location in appropriate language?
-Any other suggestions for ways to handle this?
I need some input on protocol for dealing with pilots at a a small non-tower airstrip. In the past I've obtained waivers to fly in zero grid airspace in proximity to larger airports, and communicated with towers by phone in advance of my flights, but this situation is new to me so any advice is appreciated. Here are the details:
I've been contracted to fly orbitals and ortho mapping, recurring weekly for 26 weeks, over a construction site that is literally at the end of the runway. The airspace on the construction site is class G. It's such a small airfield that I don't even get a no-fly warning when I open GS Pro or Go4. All the planes are small single engine or crop dusters.
The first week I flew, several planes came over my location on landing approach. Fortunately my drone was on the ground at the time, but they were all at about the same altitude I fly, around 300' AGL. After that, I reached out to the airport admins to inform them about my presence. They asked that I monitor the CTAF and announce myself if I hear anything related to aircraft approaching or taking off from their field. I told them Part 107 doesn't allow me to talk on the radio. They told me that not all the pilots who fly in and out of their field are good about announcing themselves, so just monitoring might not be sufficient. They said they would give me authorization to announce myself and communicate on the radio.
Questions:
-Can they grant this authorization for me to communicate with pilots, or does that have to come from the FAA or someplace higher than the local airfield?
-I've never had occasion to talk on the radio. If they permit me, what would be the protocol for announcing my presence? How should I identify myself, my drone and my location in appropriate language?
-Any other suggestions for ways to handle this?