Use of Drones or Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) policy

(Revised 04/10/2021)
*For a redline copy of the policy please contact risk-management@uiowa.edu

I. Purpose and Scope

II. Definitions

III. Drone Committee and Drone Advisory Group

IV. Drone Operations

V. Compliance and Restrictions

VI. Law Enforcement

VII. Violations

VIII. Incident Reporting

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I. Purpose and Scope

A. The purpose of this policy is to maintain a general “NO DRONE ZONE” over University Property to protect the University community while defining specific exceptions to support the University’s use of drones in education, research, and outreach.

B. This policy applies to:

  1. Any Drone, parts to assemble a Drone, or Drone services purchased with University funds or with funds being disbursed through a University account;
  2. All faculty, staff, students, volunteers, visitors and members of the public who launch or land a Drone on Campus or fly-over Campus;
  3. All University-controlled and/or University-owned Drones launched or landed outside of University Property.

II. Definitions

A. “Campus” includes all property owned or used by the University.

B. “Drone” means any uncrewed aircraft and all of the associated support equipment, control station, data links, telemetry, communications and navigation equipment, etc., necessary to operate the uncrewed aircraft. Drones may have a variety of names including, but not limited to, UAS, UAV, quadcopter, quadrotor, and model aircraft. Federal Aviation Administration regulations apply to Drones regardless of size or weight.

C. “Drone Flight Approval” is the document given to the requestor when an exception to the “NO DRONE ZONE” has been granted by the Drone Committee.  This document provides the specific details of the exception granted including date, time and exact location of the flight.  This document must be in the Drone Operator’s or Remote Pilot In Commands’ possession at all times during the flight.

D. “Drone Flight Request” form is used to provide necessary information to the Drone Committee to assess whether an exception to the “NO DRONE ZONE” can be approved.

E. “Drone Operator” or “Remote Pilot in Command” is the person who will be flying the Drone.  They are responsible for all Drone operations, proper Drone function and are required to keep the airborne Drone in visual line of sight at all times.

F. "Landowner Drone Flight Consent Form" is the document Drone Operators need to have completed prior to launching or landing University-owned Drone from or on property not owned by the University. This completed form must be submitted to the Drone Committee when a Drone Flight Request is submitted.

G. “NO DRONE ZONE” means generally Drones are not permitted to launch, land or flyover University Property unless an explicit exception is granted in writing prior to launch by the Drone Committee.

H. “University Property” includes all property owned or used by the University

III. Drone Committee and Drone Advisory Group

A. The Drone Committee is comprised of representatives from Risk Management, the Office of Vice President for Research, Department of Public Safety, Facilities Management, the Office of the General Counsel, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the Office of the Provost, and the Office of Strategic Communication.  The Drone Committee’s responsibilities include:

  1. Reviewing and approving Drone Flight Requests;
  2. Educating the University community about the “NO DRONE ZONE” on Campus;
  3. Notifying affected areas on Campus when an exception to the “NO DRONE ZONE” has been granted under this policy; and
  4. Reviewing any loss, injury and/or accident involving a Drone or its operation on Campus and/or a University-controlled and/or University-owned Drone operated off Campus.

B. The Drone Advisory Group is comprised of representatives from Athletics, Building Coordinators, Division of Sponsored Programs, Faculty, the Iowa Memorial Union, and University Housing & Dining.  The Drone Advisory Group’s responsibilities include:

  1. Being available to consult with the Drone Committee on unique Drone issues and requests and
  2. Notifying their respective areas of approved Drone flights in their area.

IV. Drone Operations

A. Drone Operators

  1. Any University faculty or staff wishing to operate a Drone as part of their University duties or responsibilities or as part of a University program may do so only as:
    1. A civil operation under either 14 CFR Part 107 or
    2. A public aircraft operation under 49 U.S.C. §§40102(a)(41), 40125 or
    3. An indoor operator with explicit Drone Flight Approval from the Drone Committee.
  2. Any University student, volunteer, visitor or member of the public wishing to operate a Drone launching or landing from University Property may do so only as:

    1. A civil operation under either 14 CFR Part 107 or

    2. A public aircraft operation under 49 U.S.C. §§40102(a)(41), 40125.

  3. Any University faculty, staff, student or volunteer wishing to launch or land a University-owned Drone from property not owned by the University must have a Landowner Drone Flight Consent Form completed prior to launch.

  4. For a Drone use in foreign countries, or when foreign nationals are involved in any University activity using a Drone, the Office of General Counsel and the Export Control Coordinator will assist in determining legal requirements and verifying that requirements have been or can be met prior to launch.

B. Drone Flight Requests and Drone Flight Approval

  1. Any operation of a Drone involving launching or landing from University Property requires the filing of a Drone Flight Request form and the receipt of a Drone Flight Approval notice from the Drone Committee prior to launching. Requests will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

    1. The requestor's relationship to the University;

    2. The purpose of the flight in relation to the University mission;

    3. Justification of the need to launch or land on University Property as opposed to local aircraft support facilities;

    4. Drone Operator(s) must have all required FAA certifications, licenses, permits and clearances to operate the Drone as proposed;

    5. Whether or not the Drone Operator(s) have all required insurance coverages in the types and amounts as required by Risk Management; and

    6. Any other factors deemed pertinent by any member of the Drone Committee.

  2. Any operation of a University-owned or University-controlled Drone involving launching or landing from property not owned by the University, requires the filing of a Drone Flight Request form by the University faculty, staff, student or volunteer and the receipt of a Drone Flight Approval notice from the Drone Committee prior to launching.  Requests will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

    1. The purpose of the flight in relation to the University mission;

    2. Permission from the appropriate landowner(s)/authorities in the form of a completed Landowner Drone Flight Consent Form;

    3. Justification of the need to launch or land on the property as opposed to local aircraft support facilities;

    4. Drone Operator(s) must have all required FAA certifications, licenses, permits and clearances to operate the Drone as proposed;

    5. Any other factors deemed pertinent by any member of the Drone Committee.

  3. Drone Flight Requests must be submitted to the Drone Committee using the online form not less than 10 days prior to the requested operation and must include:

    1. A detailed description of the proposed Drone activity and purpose;

    2. A clearly marked flight plan with identified not to exceed boundaries (aerial map with markings) and with clearly marked launch and land locations identified;

    3. Name of requestor, Drone Operator, Drone Operator’s licenses, Remote Pilot In Command Certificate, permits and clearances to operate the Drone as proposed;

    4. Owner information, description of Drone (make, model, weight, and other specific descriptors), and FAA assigned Drone registration number; and

    5. Any other pertinent information necessary for the Drone Committee to review.

  4. To receive a Drone Flight Approval from the Drone Committee, the proposed flight must:

    1. Be forthcoming and complete in its content;

    2. Comply with federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances, and University of Iowa policies and procedures;

    3. Not pose an unacceptable threat to health, safety, privacy, or the environment, either in an absolute sense or compared to other methods of obtaining the desired information; and

    4. Be judged by the Drone Committee to be consistent with the mission of the University of Iowa.

  5. Any Drone Flight Request may be denied by the Drone Committee if, in the Drone Committee’s sole discretion, the Drone Flight Request does not meet the criteria defined herein for approval or if there has been a recent or significant loss, injury and/or accident involving a Drone or its operation on campus.

  6. When the Drone Committee approves a Drone Flight Request, the requestor will be issued a Drone Flight Approval. 

  7. Risk Management will maintain a record of all Drone Flight Approvals.

  8. Any Drone Flight Approval may be withdrawn or suspended at any time by the Drone Committee if, in the Drone Committee’s sole discretion, the Drone Flight Approval no longer meets the criteria defined herein for approval or if there has been a recent or significant loss, injury and/or accident involving a Drone or its operation on campus.

  9. The Drone Committee generally will only grant Drone Flight Approvals for short periods of time; however, the Drone Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant a blanket or long term Drone Flight Approval if the Drone Committee determines that it does not pose an unacceptable threat to health, safety, privacy, or the environment.

 

V. Compliance and Restrictions. The following applies to all Drone operations within the scope of this policy:

A. Drone Operator(s), visual observer and all flight participants must be in compliance with all University policies and procedures and federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances at all times.

B. Drone Operator(s) must be in physical possession of all up to date required FAA certifications, licenses, permits, and clearances at all times throughout the flight and must display it upon request from law enforcement or University officials.

C.  Drone Operator(s) must be in physical possession of the Drone Flight Approval at all times throughout the flight and must display it upon request from law enforcement or University officials.

D. Use of Drones for video or electronic surveillance must comply with the University of Iowa Video Surveillance policy.

E. Use of Drones for commercial filming must comply with the University of Iowa Commercial Filming policy.

F. Do not operate or participate in the use of a Drone while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or in a reckless or careless manner.

G. Do not operate a Drone beyond line of sight. Use of a visual observer is permitted in accordance with the applicable regulations, however, use of a visual observer does not relieve the Drone Operator or Remote Pilot In Command of the legal responsibility to maintain a clear visual line of site to the airborne Drone at all times.

H. Do not operate a Drone at night unless 1. the Drone Operator has completed FAA required knowledge testing and training; and 2. the Drone has operational anticollision lights, visible for at least 3 miles.

I. Do not operate a Drone inside a building, or use it to see inside a building without the Drone Flight Approval from the Drone Committee.

J. Drones must comply with FAA rules for propeller guards.

K. Do not operate a Drone directly over persons or assemblies who are non-participants in the flight operations without the express written permission from the FAA and/or a Drone Flight Approval from the Drone Committee.

L. Do not operate a Drone directly over moving vehicles without the express written permission from the FAA and/or a Drone Flight Approval from the Drone Committee.

M. Do not operate a Drone in an area or in a way that would violate a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy without a Drone Flight Approval from the Drone Committee. These areas include, but are not limited to, anything seen through a building window, animal facilities, laboratories, patient rooms, residence halls, apartments, residential facilities and hotel rooms.

VI. Law enforcement officers conducting Drone flights for law enforcement purposes are exempt from this policy but must comply with all other applicable FAA regulations.

VII. Violations. Violations of this policy may result in any of the following:

A. Confiscation of the Drone and confiscation of all recorded data from the Drone.

B. Immediate removal of the Drone and/or violators from University Property;

C. Immediate suspension of a Drone Flight Approval;

D. Disciplinary action in accordance with applicable University policies and procedures, which may include expulsion or termination from the University;

E. Being reported to the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety for possible criminal investigation; and/or

F. Being reported to the federal regulatory agency with jurisdiction over the matter for possible investigation.

VIII. Incident Reporting.  

  1. Immediate On Campus Reporting:  Any loss, injury and/or accident involving a Drone or its operation on Campus must be immediately reported to:  
    1. ​​​​​​​The University Department of Public Safety, Emergency: 911, Non-emergency:  319-335-0522, 808 University Capitol Centre, police@uiowa.edu, https://police.uiowa.edu/ and
    2. The Department of Risk Management, Insurance, and Loss Prevention, 319-335-0010, 430 Plaza Centre One, risk-management@uiowa.edu, https://uiowa.edu/riskmanagement/. 
  2. Immediate Off Campus Reporting:  Any loss, injury and/or accident involving a University-controlled and/or University-owned Drone off Campus must be immediately reported to: 
    1. ​​​​​​​The local police authorities, Emergency:  911, and 
    2. The Department of Risk Management, Insurance, and Loss Prevention, 319-430-4401, 430 Plaza Centre One, risk-management@uiowa.edu, https://uiowa.edu/riskmanagement/.
  3. Reporting Incidents to the Drone Committee:  Any Drone Operator involved in a loss, injury and/or accident involving a Drone on Campus or a University-controlled and/or University-owned Drone off Campus is required to provide an explanation of the incident to the Drone Committee within 48 hours and answer any follow-up questions from the Committee.

  4. Any media inquiries regarding a drone incident should be referred to the University Office of Strategic Communications at media-request@uiowa.edu.

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