Guide Shows How Flight Departments Can Integrate UASs

NBAA released a new resource on Friday to assist flight departments considering the use of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) within their operations. The guide, “Integrated Operational Management and Oversight for sUAS,” provides background information and checklist for vetting sUAS service providers.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University program chair for unmanned systems Dr. Brent Terwilliger helped to develop the guide in his role as the NBAA UAS subcommittee chairman. He said business aviation flight departments are “uniquely equipped” to handle the operational challenges that sUASs present and benefit from their commercial potential. “Flight departments have the knowledge, they’re very well versed in safety management, operational risk assessment, a lot of the considerations that need to be made to end up with safe and responsible [UAS] operations,” Terwilliger noted.

Thus, the guide contains examples of how flight department expertise can make the integration process smoother, including regulatory compliance experience, increased safety awareness and economy-of-scale benefits. “This resource offers a starting point for flight departments exploring what sUAS can bring to their operation,” said NBAA senior manager for security and facilitation Sarah Wolf.