Hayward
Fire department
HFD UAS Policy Proposal
Purpose: The purpose of this proposal is to establish potential use missions, policy, budget, legal authority, training, and risk management associated with HFD use of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Definitions:
Small Unmanned Aircraft (UA): An unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds, including everything that is onboard or otherwise attached to the aircraft, and can be flown without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS): A small UA and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the small UA) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the small UA in the National Air Space.
Remote Pilot in Command (PIC): A person who holds a remote pilot certificate with an sUAS rating and has the final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of an sUAS operation conducted under part 107.
Part 107: The FAA rules regulating small UAS, under which a drone operator obtains a Remote Pilot Certificate Visual Observer (VO): A person acting as a flight crew member who assists the small UA remote PIC and the person manipulating the controls to see and avoid other air traffic or objects aloft or on the ground.
Visual Line of Sight (VLOS): Visual contact between PIC or VO and a UAS sufficient to maintain safe operational control of the aircraft, known location, and be able to scan the airspace in which it is operating to see and avoid other aircraft or objects aloft or on the ground.
HFD UAS Missions:
The use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems can greatly enhance situational awareness by providing intelligence to Incident Commanders in a timely manner. UAS can increase mission effectiveness, efficiency, and increase public and firefighter safety by providing visual perspective in areas that cannot safely be accessed by personnel, and can significantly reduce exposure time to both rescuers and public. Potential UAS missions include, but are not limited to:
Lost Hiker: UAS can significantly enhance our ability to accurately locate lost or injured hikers in a timely manner, reducing time spent locating the patient which will in turn reduce their exposure time and allow us to provide care or rescue sooner. UAS will also allow us to assess equipment needs and best access in the case of injury, technical (low or high angle) rescue, and possible need for evacuation by aircraft.
Weather Emergencies: assess road access for fire apparatus following mudslides/washouts, assess structural stability of buildings, search for stranded victims and assess inaccessible areas during floods.
Hazmat and other unusual hazardous events (e.g. Calpine): UAS will allow HFD personnel to evaluate specific threats from a safe distance, with the ability to read placards, identify the extent of a spill, identify heat sources that can’t be detected without thermal imaging, and identify resource needs.
Significant Earthquake: UAS will be indispensable following a significant earthquake, allowing personnel to survey a broad area, assess structural/infrastructure damage, identify possible rescue needs, and gain visual access to locations blocked by debris or damage.
Wildland Fire: Provide aerial intelligence on fire spread, spot fires, threatened structures and other assets, potential line location (note: HFD UAS will be grounded if other aviation resources arrive on scene) Unusual Structure Fires (e.g. Holiday Bowl, B Street and Main): By providing the ability to see through smoke, identify structural instability, identify heat sources, and maintain accountability when smoke and other factors inhibit situational awareness and tactical decision making.
Over the Bridge/Boat Rescue: Quickly and safely determine if there is actually a victim in the water, accurately locate the victim, visually identify victim’s location to rescuers, and communicate to the victim via an external loudspeaker.
MCI
Mutual Aid
Training/Recruitment
Any situation in which the Incident Commander would benefit from the increased situational awareness provided by an aerial perspective.
Authority:
All HFD UAS pilots will receive formal training and will obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA and will comply with the rules set forth under 14 CFR Part 107. If the determination is made that Remote Pilots will need to deviate from Part 107 rules in order to perform emergency missions, Part 107 Waivers will be obtained. HFD will communicate directly with the Hayward Executive Airport and request permission to conduct flights within Class D airspace.
HFD UAS Program Coordinator:
The program coordinator will perform the following functions:
Identify equipment and software needs
Apply for Part 107 waivers, and , if necessary, navigate the application process for a Certificate of Authority Create a UAS policy that encompasses Operations, Training, Mission Uses, Risk Management, and Privacy Create a training plan that includes both initial training and ongoing training to maintain pilot proficiency, and develop a Remote Pilot Taskbook Ensure that the HFD UAS Program complies with local, state, and federal regulations and that currency is maintained for all required qualifications Ensure that documentation is maintained for flight hours, pilot training, currency, and equipment use Stay current on evolving policy, technology and industry standards Deployment Model:
Each BC vehicle will be equipped with a DJI Matrice 30T, with a portable monitor that can be connected to the flight controller via HDMI cable. The capabilities of this UAS will be particularly well suited to Hazmat missions, search and rescue, victims in the bay, weather emergencies, and wildfires in the hills during high wind events.
Two DJI Mavic 3Ts will be available for each shift, and will be kept at stations with UAS pilots. When coming on shift, UAS pilots will inspect their equipment and place it on their apparatus for the shift. The size and portability of this UAS will allow it to be easily stowed on the apparatus, and this will ensure that they are readily available throughout the city for calls that will benefit from UAS but do not require the enhanced zoom capabilities, weather resistance, and laser rangefinder of the Matrice 30T. The Mavic 3T can also be connected to the portable monitors via HDMI cable.
The Mavic 3T and Matrice 30T have the same thermal camera and are both extremely capable platforms for enhancing situational awareness and mission capability.
Ordering Procedure:
On scene Captains will request UAS through their on duty Battalion Chief. The Battalion Chief will assign the closest UAS pilot, and will determine whether or not to attach to the call based on the nature of the call.
Training:
Remote Pilots will attend formal training which will cover airspace issues, emergency procedures, public safety uses, pre-flight inspections, hands on flight time on a variety of platforms, and prepare for the FAA Part 107 test.
Prior to operating UAS during HFD operations, Remote Pilots will be required to complete a UAS Pilot Taskbook. Pilots will be required to maintain proficiency through skills based exercises and scenario based training drills. Pilots will be required to maintain the currency of their Part 107, which must be renewed biannually. The part 107 license is renewed with an online course and there is no cost.
Visual Observers may be qualified pilots, or members who participate in UAS training and are familiar with flight operations, airspace requirements, communications, and all HFD UAS protocols. The Visual Observer role will be incorporated into all UAS training, and a Visual Observer will be used in all HFD UAS operations.