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Anyone aware of any PS agency currently operating under Part 107? If so please PM the agency name. Tried FAA, no response...Thanks.
Thanks!It's a Sheriff's office in North Dakota I know of that is, my agency just took a class taught by their head pilot. Once I get home I'll get you which office.
Thanks for the info. Can you get emergency authorizations to fly at night under Part 107 via the secret squirrel process?I just completed the initial training of 8 officers to be 107 pilots. At this time I am operational and flying various missions. We will be operating under part 107 and I have already received an airspace authorization for our jurisdiction as we are in proximity to class C surface airspace. Was also recently given some secret squirrel information for emergency airspace authorizations for mutual aid incidents that fall outside of my established airspace authorizations. As of right now there is nothing that we are not able to do by flying under 107 that we would be able to do under a COA.
My agency is Daytona Beach Shores Dept. of Public Safety.
The local newspaper came out and did a good story on our program that was also carried on Police1.com:
Daytona Beach Shores to use drone for search-and-rescue, building inspections
You can't get Emergency Authorization (technically) via Part 107. Emergency Authorization are supposed to be through the Emergency COA process (which requires a previously issued COA normally).Thanks for the info. Can you get emergency authorizations to fly at night under Part 107 via the secret squirrel process?
Thanks for the info. Can you get emergency authorizations to fly at night under Part 107 via the secret squirrel process?
That was my understanding. I do have the System Operations Support Center (SOSC) phone number. So, after reading the last posting, emergency night waivers are only possible thru the SGI with a COA? But future plans are to grant them to Part 107 pilots via the SGI...is that right? I have an email to FAA clarifying that, no response yet.You can't get Emergency Authorization (technically) via Part 107. Emergency Authorization are supposed to be through the Emergency COA process (which requires a previously issued COA normally).
That was my understanding. I do have the System Operations Support Center (SOSC) phone number. So, after reading the last posting, emergency night waivers are only possible thru the SGI with a COA? But future plans are to grant them to Part 107 pilots via the SGI...is that right? I have an email to FAA clarifying that, no response yet.
That is correct, you can fly as a public safety agency under either 107 or with a COA. But that is flight by flight determination based on needs. Agencies who qualify for Public Aircraft Operations should consider having both a COA and 107 Waivers. You can get SGI access either way.FAA Washington told me (april 2017) our PD can chose COA or 107 but not both. We are in Class G airspace and no reason to ever operate in controlled airspace so we went 107( all pilots FAA certified). Only drawback is not having the controlled airspace authorizations already built into a COA. We have a night waiver and that's about the only waiver we'll ever need.
No mention was ever made of the aircraft needing a COA but it does have an N number.
From :
Aviation Safety (AVS) Safety Technical Support Services (STSS)
Air Traffic and Law Enforcement/SAC-EC Liaison
Supporting Federal Aviation Administration
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Tactical Operations,
Emerging Technologies Team, AUS-430/AJV-115
"So long as the aircraft are appropriately registered with the FAA and the operations that the PD Pilots conduct are within the conditions of 14 VFR Part 107 then they can operate as a civil operator to conduct those operations that the PD wants them to fly. If they need to operate at night and a waiver has not been already coordinated and approved through the FAA web Portal then the incident commander can contact the SOSC to request an SGI for his civil operators to fly that specific night operation. The SOSC cannot issue a blanket night waiver in anticipation of an emergency event where a night operation may be necessary."
But that was April, in FAA UAS time that's like 5 years old so perhaps it changed.
Luis Martinez
Chief UAS Pilot
Maricopa Police Department
39700 West Civic Center Plaza,
Maricopa, Arizona 85138
View attachment 16970
Why would we need a COA? I'd like to know if we are missing the boat. We are in G airspace, have night waiver, no plans to ever operate in controlled airspace, nor agree to fly in any other agencies' controlled airspace, all flight crews are FAA 107 certified, with our own internal training and standards program. What will a COA bring to the party?It doesn't hurt to have both, just gives you more options.
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