Document
OAS - 35 (12/12)
Department of the Interior
Lessons Learned
No. DOI LL 18 - 0 1 November 2 , 201 7 Page 1 of 2 Subje ct: 3DR SOLO UAS ISSUES Area of Concern: 3DR SOLO UAS Operations Distribution: All Aviation Activities Discussion : The Department’s UAS program has grown significantly over the last year .
Thanks to all of those reporting in SAFECOM, we’ve been able to identify some important issues involving the 3DR Solo UAS .
Contr olled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) There have been several incid ents where a DOI Remote Pilot has flown an aircraft into terrai n or obstacles. It ’ s paramount for operators to ensure their UAS is able to climb, cruise, and descend while maintaining clearance from obstacles. The f ollowing are some best practices t o help mitigate this risk: 1. Conduct a thorough on - site assessment prior to flight planning in order to understand the hazards within the takeoff/landing area and mission /operating area .
2. I mager y installed in the GCS will maximize your situational awareness.
3. If possible, keep the UAS above the horizon, or exercise extreme c aution when flying in areas with background clutter when looking at the aircraft.
4. Prior to conducting a mappi ng mission , fly the project area with the GoPro payload first , in order to increase your situational awareness and determine safe altitudes.
5. Don’t be complacent. Several CFIT mishaps involved experienced r emote p ilot s. Be disciplined and profession al on every project and every flight.
Tower/Mission Planner/Solo Applications S everal S AFECOM s relate to anomalies when running multiple fli ght control applications. DOI Remote P ilots must comply with the following procedures in order to minimize the r isk of unexpected aircraft behavior: 1. Use your checklist - ALWAYS 2. Ensure only one flight control application is open at a time.
3. Do not use GC S software unless you are trained in its use and the certification is noted on your OAS - 30U card.
No. DOI LL 18 - 0 1 November 2 , 2017 Page 2 of 2 Compass Calibration and GPS Anomalies There have also been several incidents involving compass errors and GPS anomalies. DOI Remote P ilots shoul d use the following best practic es to mitigate the risk of compass and GPS errors: 1. Calibrate the air craft compass at each new site regardless of whether or not the system prompts you to do so.
2. Discontinue flight if GPS or compass anomalie s persist .
3. Check NOTAMS prior to missions to ensure there are no GPS outages in your area of operations .
4. T errain and veget ation must be taken into account during preflight planning.
5. Fly a reconnaissance mission before operational flights if GPS integrity is in doubt due to terrain and/or obstacles.
Unauthorized Payload Development Other incidents involve pilots allowing unapproved payloads. Pi lots are required to limit 3DR Solo payloads to those approved by DOI UAS fleet managers or after receiving explicit training from a UAS inspector, coach, or mentor. New payload development is best supported using the appropriate process.
C ontact yo ur bureau’s unit, regional, state or national aviation office if you have any questions or concerns.
/s/ Keith Rale y _ Keith Raley Chief, Aviation Safety , Training , Program Evaluations , a nd Quality Management