Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS)

The use of Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) provide faculty and student researchers access to data that may enhance research projects within existing courses, enable undergraduate capstone and Master’s thesis projects, and permit research that answers significant questions benefiting the state of California, the nation, and beyond.

The use of UAS’s offer faculty, students, staff and volunteers at SSU valuable opportunities to acquire data inexpensively in a wide range of disciplines. In addition to experience associated with programming/flying UAS’s, student researchers benefit from the design, selection, and operation of data sensors and from the post-processing and analyses of sensor data.

While the use of UAS’s has enormous research potential, their use requires strict observance of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, as this agency controls all navigable airspace within the United States. The FAA established specific regulations for Small UAS's under 14 CFR Part 107 effective August 29, 2016.

All University employees, students, and visitors must comply with FAA regulations and SSU policy in order to operate an UAS on University property or at University sanctioned events or under any project being done under the University name.

The UAS Review Board is responsible for the review, approval and oversight of UAS operations at SSU. An approval from the UAS Review Board provides a minimum level of assurance that the operators are aware of the additional FAA requirements, and are prepared and capable of operating the UAS safely and responsibly. Only operations approved by the UAS Review Board are permitted under this policy.

Federal Policy Guidance

• Federal Aviation Administration
• SSU's policy on Use of Unoccupied Aerial Systems

Current UAS Review Board Membership

• Owen Anfinson – Committee Chair & Geology Faculty
• Missy Brunetta - Interim Senior Director for Risk Management, Emergency Services & Campus Safety Operations
• Jenifer Barnett – Managing Director of Contracts and Accounts Payable
• Matthew Clark – Geography, Environment & Planning Faculty
• Jose Hernandez Ayala – Geography, Environment & Planning Faculty
• Tyson Hill – Senior Director, Risk Management and Safety Service
• Nader Oweis – Chief of Police
• John Sullins III – Philosophy Faculty
• Elisabeth Wade – Dean, School of Science and Technology
• Thomas Whitley – Anthropology Faculty
• Arcelia Sandoval - Compliance Officer, Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

How to submit an application for UAS use

The following steps outline the process to gain approval to use UAS’s for research:

1. The Principal Investigator (PI) develops the Flight Operations Proposal (FOP) and submits Unoccupied Aerial Systems Use Application.
2. Upon approval of the Flight Operations Proposal by the UAS Review Board, an approval letter (or denial) will be delivered to the applicant.
3. The applicant may then purchase the UAS through the Electronic Requisition process.
4. Flight operations may commence provided all FAA Part 107 regulations are followed throughout every component of operations and provided that a UAS Certified Pilot is present.

Flight Operations Proposals (FOP) should minimally address the following elements:

1. Purpose, nature (research, instruction, other) and goals of the work to be undertaken.
2. Need for a UAS.
3. Type of vehicle(s) and equipment to be utilized and the manner in which they will be operated.
4. The identity of the FAA certified UAS pilot(s) who serves as UAS pilot or observer.
5. Date(s)/Schedule of activities to be undertaken.
6. Locale(s) and flight plan for operations.
7. All forms of data (including imagery) to be collected.
8. Provisions for security of the equipment, both during and outside of operation, and of any sensitive data collected.
9. Sources and nature of financial support.
10. Communications plan for notifying campus police, local landowners, and police agencies, as appropriate, in the overflight radius of planned operations each time a UAS is flown.

Careful consideration should also be given to other issues such as airworthiness, training, and access to requisite personnel, such as qualified visual observers.

All accidents that result in injury, property damage or vehicle repair must be reported to the UAS Review Board and Campus Police within 24 hours of the incident.