Unmanned Aerial Systems

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Drone at PVCC-sponsored event in March 2020 (photo by PVCC)

An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), or drone, is an aircraft piloted remotely or autonomously, with no human passengers on board. Local organizations and private citizens use drones for a variety of purposes, mostly relating to aerial photography or remote inspection. There were 127 certified remote pilots in Albemarle County, and 50 in Charlottesville, according to Federal Aviation Administration records as of August 1, 2021.[1]


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Academic Use

Faculty and students at the University of Virginia have conducted research and development relating to drones since at least 2012, and have used Milton Field for drone flight testing.[2][3][4][5] In February 2017, UVA enacted a policy requiring that prospective drone pilots obtain university approval prior to any drone flight on UVa property, and designating the area immediately around the university medical center’s helipad as a restricted airspace unsuitable for drone flights.[6] [7]

Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) has offered a workforce training certificate in drone operation since 2016.[8] PVCC hosted an annual national conference on UAS applications for public safety from 2017 – 2020.[9][10][11]

Local Government Use

Albemarle County has accepted donations of drones for public safety uses on at least two occasions.

On July 6, 2016, the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution to accept the donation of a UAS from David King, for use by the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office. At the Board meeting, Sheriff Chip Harding introduced David King and Chief Charles Werner as members of the county's search and rescue team who had done most of the research on the issue. King and Werner addressed the Board, emphasizing the value of using a UAS to survey broad areas in search and rescue operations, and in disaster response scenarios.[12][13] A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with specific terms of use for the UAV described it as a DJI Phantom 3.[14]

On September 13, 2017, as part of its consent agenda, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to accept the donation of a UAS from Crutchfield for use by Albemarle County Fire Rescue (ACFR). An associated county staff report indicated that ACFR's potential use cases for a UAS would include search and rescue operations, as well as observation and documentation of firefighting, hazardous material incidents, and other disaster response activities. The resolution to accept the donated UAS described it as a Yuneec Typhoon H Hexicopter.[15]

Local Businesses

Skyclad Aerial has used UAVs to capture aerial photography;[16][17] their work has appeared in local media outlets since at least 2016.[18]

Laws and Regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates aircraft nationwide, including drones. Virginia has additional laws pertaining to drones.[19] The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport participates in the FAA's Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system.[20] LAANC is a partnership between the FAA and various companies who operate desktop and mobile phone applications for drone pilots to request and receive FAA authorization for drone flights in controlled airspace near airports.[21]

Charlottesville City Council narrowly passed an anti-drone resolution on February 4, 2013, calling on the state and federal government to limit the use of drones, and pledging that Charlottesville would not use drones for certain purposes.[22][23][24] However, state legislation in 2016 prohibited local-level regulations on drones,[25] with limited exceptions added in 2020.[26]

An October 2011 drone flight to capture video footage for use in a UVa Health System media project became the subject of a legal case with national significance. UVa notified the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport and university police in advance of the drone flight, but the FAA attempted to fine the pilot $10,000 for violation of FAA policies.[27] The pilot ultimately decided to settle the case in 2015 by paying the FAA $1,100, but made no admission of wrongdoing.[28]

References

  1. Web. Active Pilots Detail - Eastern, Airmen Certification System, Federal Aviation Administration, August 1, 2021, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. Web. Want a Flying Drone? These Students 3D-Printed Their Own, Mike Senese, Wired, Condé Nast, November 28, 2012, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  3. Web. The Razor: UVA's 3D-printed U.A.V., UVa, August 29, 2014, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  4. Web. UVa Steps Up Its Drone Game, Molly Greenberg, DC Inno, American City Business Journals, September 06, 2014, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  5. Web. PHOTOS: Students from UVA and Va. Tech to Test Flying and Ground-Based Robots, Erin Edgerton, Daily Progress, Berkshire Hathaway, February 8, 2020, retrieved August 14, 2021.
  6. Web. SEC-040: Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS” or “Drones”), UVa, July 22, 2021, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  7. Web. ”No-Drone” Fly Zone Map, UVa, January 25, 2017, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  8. Web. PVCC to host national conference for first responders on use of drones, Derek Quizon, Daily Progress, Berkshire Hathaway, December 31, 2016, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  9. Web. Safety personnel converge on Crozet for drone summit, Lauren Berg, Daily Progress, Berkshire Hathaway, February 28, 2017, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  10. Web. Northam speaks at drone conference at Albemarle vineyard, Bryan McKenzie, Daily Progress, Berkshire Hathaway, March 4, 2019, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  11. Web. PVCC to Hold Annual Public Safety UAS Conference, Piedmont Virginia Community College, Charlottesville, Virginia, February 24, 2020, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  12. Web. Drone donated to Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office, Lauren Berg, Daily Progress, Berkshire Hathaway, July 6, 2016, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  13. Web. County of Albemarle, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Minutes, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Albemarle County, July 6, 2016, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  14. Web. County of Albemarle, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Minutes, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Albemarle County, July 6, 2016, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  15. Web. County of Albemarle, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Minutes, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Albemarle County, September 13, 2017, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  16. Web. Local drone company takes off; SkyClad benefitting from August FAA ruling on pilots, Aaron Richardson, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 11, 2017, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  17. Web. Matteus Frankovich, Owner & Founder Of Skyclad Aerial, On The I Love CVille Show!, Jerry Miller, The I Love Cville Network, Charlottesville, Virginia, February 11, 2020, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  18. Web. Abode: July 2016, C-VILLE Weekly, Charlottesville, Virginia, July 2016, retrieved August 16, 2021.
  19. Web. Unmanned Aircraft Systems 2019 Guide for Virginia Airports, Amber L. Wilson, Virginia Department of Aviation, Richmond, Virginia, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  20. Web. Airports Participating in LAANC, Federal Aviation Administration, June 2021, retrieved August 22, 2021.
  21. Web. UAS Data Exchange (LAANC), Federal Aviation Administration, retrieved August 22, 2021.
  22. Web. Charlottesville City Council meeting minutes, City of Charlottesville, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  23. Web. Agenda for February 4, 2013 Charlottesville City Council, City of Charlottesville, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  24. Web. Charlottesville becomes first city in U.S. to pass anti-drone resolution, Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Berkshire Hathaway, February 5, 2013, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  25. Web. House blocks localities from regulating drones, Matt Chaney, Daily Progress, Berkshire Hathaway, February 9, 2016, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  26. Web. § 15.2-926.3. Local regulation of certain aircraft., Code of Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  27. Web. Judge's decision sparks debate over future use of drones, K. Burnell Evans, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 8, 2014, retrieved August 21, 2021.
  28. Web. The Commercial Drone Pilot Who Ruined the FAA's 2014 Has Settled His Case, Jason Koebler, Vice Media Group, January 22, 2015, retrieved August 21, 2021.

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