DRONE / SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT FLYING - ON THE UCL ESTATE

Transcription

1 Mandatory Fire & Safety Instruction DRONE / SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT FLYING - ON THE UCL ESTATE Drones commonly known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) / Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) / Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) / Small Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft (SUSA) are now widely available for commercial and recreational use. Drones can cause injury or damage if they are not used responsibly and so are subject to safety rules, which are underpinned by UK law - what you need to know: Mandatory Prohibited Acceptable Mandatory - all Drone flights whether for Commercial or Academic purposes, or for fun are subject to safety rules and requirements set out in the Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016; which requires that persons must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property. Mandatory - the Air Navigation Order defines a congested area as being 'any area of a city, town or settlement which is substantially used for residential, industrial, commercial or recreational purposes' - this definition applies to almost ALL of the UCL Estate including the iconic Main Quadrangle, Malet Place etc. Permission must be obtained from the CAA to land or operate within a congested area, valid for flight operations for 1 x flight or up to 12 months; Mandatory (UCL Estates Access to Pictures) - as part of the permission to fly a Drone on UCL property, UCL Estates request that operators provided copies of pictures / footage of UCL buildings to assist with maintenance activities. Pictures will only be for building(s) in the immediate proposed Drone operations flight area and only if it is safe, practical & legal to do so. Prohibited - to fly your drone on the UCL Estate whether for academic, commercial or for fun; unless you have been authorised by UCL Estates Safety Services and can demonstrate: The drone operator holds a Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) certificate - the CAA licence giving permission for the operator / company to fly within a congested area; The drone operator has suitable and specific insurance policy with a minimum of 5m Third Party cover in place for the period of the flight(s); Suitable & sufficient safety measures are in place, to ensure that drone operations will not endanger people, property or aircraft; Note - see Item 2 below for general requirements and restrictions. Drone fight operations on UCL property for due diligence must be undertaken by an individual or organisations that holds a CAA Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO). To obtain a permit the drone operator has to demonstrate their competence by undergoing an assessment process with one of the approved National Qualified Entities (see the CAA Web), provided safe flight operating arrangement and appropriate insurance cover. Further and specify information from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA): See latest edition of CAA CAP 722 (download from CAA Publication); See Drone Aware ( & See attached Flight Operation Information form to assist in authorisation; Last Amended: Rev: 6 / Dated: July 18 1.

2 1.0. PERMISSION TO FLY A DRONE FROM OR ON UCL PROPERTY 1.1. Permission to fly a UCL is applicable to: Persons - all staff, students or commercial organisations; Activities - all flights for academic, research, commercial activities or fun flying using a private drone; All flights with a camera aboard - any drone fitted with a camera taking pictures that may be subject to the Data Protection Act. Permission may be required of any person appearing photo images; 1.2. UCL requires that ALL drone flights on UCL property comply with the ANO, general health & safety and good practice. That the flight(s) is correctly authorised by CAA and UCL Safety Services by providing the following documentation: The drone operator s Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) for SUA / SUSA certificate - the CAA licence giving permission for the operator / company to fly within a congested area copy of CAA permission required; The drone operator has suitable and specific insurance cover in place for the period of the flight copy of insurance required; Sufficient local safety measures considered and demonstrated to ensure drone operations will not endanger people or property copy of safety arrangements / risk assessment, method statement (RAMS) as necessary; The exact location, time period and parameters for the flight operations operating location, time periods other relevant information; 1.3. Consultation / Authorisation - assistance or guidance on locations and access as well as authorising the drone flight on receipt of details set out a para 1.2 above: UCL Safety Services (Fire Safety Team) for permission (fire@ucl.ac.uk); 1.4. Notification - as part of the flight arrangements the following may be notified: UCL Security Control Room; UCL Estates - Safety Services; UCL Estates - BAU & Risk Management Team (estates.fi-bau@ucl.ac.uk); UCL Estates - Room Bookings; Relevant UCL Departments or persons as necessary; Last Amended: Rev: 6 / Dated: July 18 2.

3 2.0. GENERAL RULES OPERATING DRONES - ISSUED BY THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (CAA) 2.1. Recreational and Hobbyist Drone Pilot - you are a recreational drone pilot if you can tick all of these below: I fly my drone for fun; I fly in a field or park, well away from people, buildings and populated areas; I have no intention of making money from the flight; When I fly I maintain line of sight with my drone; 2.2. General drone flying for amateur or fun operations outside of a congested area 1 are subject to the following conditions: The drone flight must not be flown within 150 metres of a congested area; The drone s height must not exceeding 400 feet above surface level; The drone flight must not be flown directly overhead, or within 50 metres of any person, vessel, vehicle or structure that is not under the control of the person in charge of the Drone o exception - that during take-off and landing this distance may be reduced to 30 metres; The drone flight must be flown within the visual range of the person in charge of the drone; A drone with a Camera must not be flown within 50 metres of any person, vessel, vehicle, property, structure or aircraft; A drone fitted with a camera taking pictures may be subject to the Data Protection Act and permission may be required of any person appearing in the photo images; The drone flight must be flown in accordance with guidance issued by the CAA under the Air Navigation Order 2016; Further information from: o 1 Congested Area - being 'any area of a city, town or settlement which is substantially used for residential, industrial, commercial or recreational purposes' - Note this would apply and include almost all of the UCL Estate; Last Amended: Rev: 6 / Dated: July 18 3.

4 3.0. COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS OF DRONES - RESTRICTIONS ISSUED BY THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (CAA) 3.1. Commercial / Professional / Business Drone Pilot - if you can tick any on the statements below then you need a CAA Permission for Commercial Operations 2 (PfCO) before you fly: I will be flying within designated congested area (built-up area); I will be flying within 50 metres of any person, building or structure; I will be flying a drone as part of any academic work or research; 3.2. If the answer is yes to any of the above statements - then permission must be obtained from the CAA to land or operate within a congested area, which includes any part of the UCL Estate: The drone flight must be operated by persons employed / contracted by an approved organisation who holds an appropriate qualification issued for drone pilot competency acceptable to the CAA; The drone flight must not be flown unless the permission of the landowner on whose land the said aircraft is intended to take off and land, has been obtained; Site safety assessment is made and available to UCL; Further information from: o Drone Authorisation Form 4.1. Please complete (pdf) form below with full information and return it complete with copies of documentation required at Para 1.2 above to fire@ucl.ac.uk for processing and information distribution to relevant parties. 2 Commercial Operations - any operation of an aircraft other than for public transport which is (a) available to the public, (b) when not made available to the public, is performed under a contract between an operator and a customer, where the latter has no control over the operator, (c) in return for remuneration or other valuable consideration. Last Amended: Rev: 6 / Dated: July 18 4.

5 DRONE UCL FLIGHT INFORMATION AUTHORISATION FORM Operator Company: Operators Address: Operators Contact Deals: Name of Remote Pilot: Dept. Contact Name: Dept. Contact Number: Dept. Address: TASK INFORMATION: Task Location: Task Date(s) & Time(s): Flight Altitude (m): Vehicle Access / Parking Required: Drone Size (<7kg / <21Kg) Considerations: Actions: Findings: People: PPE Required: Risk Reduction: Congested Area / Events or Structures in flight ops area? Hard hats, high visibility vests, or other safety equipment requirements. Can the task be completed at times to avoid persons, events, or other activities? Weather: Strong winds or other weather issues in area of flight operations? Specific Operational Notes: PfCO Insurance RAMS Room Bookings Security Ops Security Control Rm BAU Estates Photo Area FM Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Last Amended: Rev: 6 / Dated: July 18 5.