Law Enforcement UAS Concept of Operations

1. Law Enforcement UASConcept of Operations US Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations DRAFT

2. Issues- LEI • Direct contact with ATC may not always be possible. • Options: cell phone, sat phone, hand held radio or indirect via relay • Law Enforcement & Investigations (LEI) missions will require immediate (6 hours to 24 hours) COA submission and approval. • Never know where or when the criminal activity will occur. • LEI missions may require some flight in IMC (smoke) and at night. • Line of sight observation would be intermittent

3. Mission Overview- LEI • USFS LEI has enforcement and investigation responsibility for 193 million acres of forest and grasslands in 42 states and 1 territory • LEI officers and agents often need to be able to gather ISR on criminal activities and SAR missions

4. Mission Purpose- LEI • Collect real-time photo/ video color/IR data and transmit to Law Enforcement Officers/Special Agents • LEI incident conditions can be mountainous with heavy vegetation • Provide another level of officer safety, situational awareness and ability to find and avoid hazardous conditions/persons.

5. Concept Overview- LEI • The Forest Service intends to utilize small UAS for tactical intelligence collection on criminal investigations, fugitive and SAR missions • UAS would be used by Law Enforcement Officers/Special Agents to provide real-time photo/video and infrared imagery pro-actively (e.g. raid planning and drug site reconnaissance) and also reactively (e.g. fugitive or search and rescue missions)

6. COA Process- LEI • Submit “original” COA with baseline information • When a LE Incident occurs, request an emergency COA with location, date/time, and other changes

7. Original COA Proponent POC Operational Description System Description Performance Airworthiness Procedures Avionics/ Eq. Lights Spectrum ATC comm Visual Surveillance Flight Ops Area/ Plan Flight Crew Observers Special Circumstances Emergency COA Changes Proponent- No Change POC- No Change Operational Description- Night ops & operational area and date/time System Description- No Change Performance- No Change Airworthiness- No Change Procedures- No Change Avionics/ Eq.- No Change Lights- No Change Spectrum- No Change ATC comm- Indirect via phone or radio Visual Surveillance- Intermittent based on conditions and terrain Flight Ops Area/ Plan- Various locations in TFR Flight Crew- No Change Observers- No Change Special Circumstances- all flight < 1000’, Class G, What’s Different

8. The Octatron SkySeer is an autonomous, computer controlled unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for easy transport and launch. It is designed and manufactured by Octatron, Incorporated of LaVerne, CA USA. Sky Seer System Description- LEI Wingspan: 6.5' Weight: 3.125 lbs Endurance: 45 to 60 min. at cruise of 23 mph

9. Sky Seer System Description- LEI • Intended for short-range operations, the electric-powered SkySeer resembles a RC airplane or two-meter glider. Once unfolded from its storage tube and its electronics initialized, the SkySeer is then hand-launched by its operator. All of the UAV’s basic flight functions are handled by GPS and manual control, including landings. It is also capable of autonomous takeoffs and landings. Range is approximately two miles/3.2km and is extendable via Octatron's NetWeaver interface. It is normally flown at 250 AGL. • Video interface is in real time and allows the operator to literally see what the UAV sees and to record it as such. The ground station's recorder can store up to twenty hours of high-quality MPEG-2 format video which can then be transferred to DVD or Macromedia Flash.

10. LEI- Mission #1 • An LEI supervisor would determine the need to see over the trees, through vegetation, down a canyon etc. • Hand launch the UAS, control the UAS from that location as well as receive data from the cameras and make tactical decisions based on the data.

11. Mission Safety • Pilots would meet 08-01, 9.1.1.1- Operations not requiring a pilot certificate • Radio communication with the pilot • Special airworthiness certificate or airworthiness statement • Airspace - within TFR –Class G typically 250 but <400AGL • Additional to TFR could be “UAS operations at 1000 ft. or below” • Utilize LEI UAS Operational Plan

12. The Mission • Small, 4 lb. UAS • Class G airspace • Fly within 14 CFR 91.137 (a) (2) TFRs ordered specifically for the LE incident. • Flight Level < 400 ft. • Airworthiness Statement/Certificate

13. Agency UAS Policy • Recently updated Agency Aviation Manual to include UAS operations. • UAS are considered the same as manned aircraft regarding- aircraft, inspections, maintenance, training, acquisition and reporting • All acquisitions will have a manufacturer’s special airworthiness certificate or airworthiness certificate • USFS UAS operations will comply with FAA policy (08-01) and/ or regulations • Develop an LEI UAS Operational Plan

14. Operations Description • Fly within TFRs in all 50 states • Class G airspace • Primarily VFR, but some IMC (night) • <400 ft. flight level DRAFT

15. Benefits • Collect flight data on visual characteristics, visibility, etc. • Publish or submit to FAA • Increased officer safety

16. 2009 • COA issued for LE Investigation within US. • LE Project team operates UAS on reconnaissance within COA provisions • Submit feedback and data to FAA post-incident