170_GM_Part_402_Subpart_B_.pdf

Title 170 – General Manual

(170-402-GM, 1st Ed., Amend.3, Apr 2017) 402-B.1

Part 402 – Aviation Management – Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Subpart B – NRCS Unmanned Aircraft Systems

402.10 Procedures and Guidelines

A. All unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) for NRCS work must be registered with the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and marked in accordance with 14 CFR Part 45.

B. Commercial UAS Contracts

(1) The contractor works with the requesting office to define requirements, select the best UAS and sensor for the job, and provide a quotation for services.

(2) If the NRCS office decides to proceed, the requesting office secures funding and issues a task order to the contractor. NRCS offices are encouraged to use any existing blanket purchase agreements with UAS vendors to simplify the contracting process.

(3) An FAA-issued certificate of authorization (COA) is required for all UAS operations within the National Airspace System (NAS). If a contractor has a section-333 exemption, operates under part 107 rules, or other FAA authorization, those may be used instead of a COA.

(4) A complete COA package includes, but is not limited to, the operational plan, project aviation safety plan, risk assessment, airworthiness, airspace, pilot qualifications, frequencies, and communication plan. All COAs are developed and submitted using the COA online system (https://ioeaaa.faa.gov).

(5) Because of the aviation knowledge required to fill out the COA, the contractor is responsible for this task.

(6) The contractor is responsible for all reporting and coordination with the FAA.

C. Cooperator UAS Missions.—Cooperator missions are those in which NRCS does not exercise operational control. Universities, other governmental agencies, and soil and water conservation districts are examples of this type of mission.

(1) Prior to agreeing to cooperator missions, the participating NRCS office must ensure that all FAA rules are followed, including having an approved COA, section-333 exemption, compliance with part-107 rules, or another FAA-approved authorization.

(2) Data collected by cooperator UAS flights must be handled according to any USDA

UAS departmental regulations.

(3) The participating NRCS office must verify that the cooperator has liability insurance to cover the UAS mission.

D. Certificates of Authorization

(1) Vendors or partners, not NRCS, are responsible for obtaining COAs.

(2) COAs require issuance of a notice to airmen (NOTAM) to alert nonparticipating aircraft of the operation and advise them of the VHF/AM radio frequency that will be monitored while operations are being conducted (if required). Each COA contains the instructions for requesting the NOTAM.

(3) For operations over U.S. Government, State, or privately owned or managed lands, excluding Department of Defense restricted areas and airspace, NRCS will coordinate with the appropriate authority and ensure the property owners have advance notice prior to the proposed UAS operation. This coordination must include

Title 170 – General Manual

(170-402-GM, 1st Ed., Amend.3, Apr 2017) 402-B.2 anticipated periods of operation, purpose of the flights, and contact information for the responsible unit should questions or issues arise.