Emergencies and Reporting
Emergency Procedures
If you experience a loss of NAV/GPS while flying your drone, follow these steps:
- Select an attitude stabilized control mode
- Set/confirm safe altitude for area between UAS position and GCS
- Direct UAS to GCS by visual guidance
- If UAS has exceeded visual range direct UAS to GCS using back azimuth of last known position
- Recover UAS
If you experience a lost link while flying your drone, follow these steps:
- Upon first indication of loss of link(LOL) check the antenna orientation, GCS link status and cables and connections. Often one of these items is the culprit of a lost link.
- If all connections and links are secure and there is still no link, typically the UAS will continue its current operation until a predefined LOL timeout is exceeded then execute LOL procedures.
- Notify people about lost link.
- Clear lost link landing area.
If you experience a fly away (i.e. aircraft is not controllable) while flying your drone, follow these steps:
- Note position and direction and speed of flight of UAS
- Track visibly, with telemetry
- Calculate possible range – How far will it go? Remaining battery life?
- Alert Authorities and Aircraft in the area (via CTAF radio or calling Air Traffic Control)
- Track / Monitor UAS to maximum extent possible – Vehicles, Aircraft
Incident Reporting
If an emergency occurs while you are flying your drone, follow these steps:
- Clear the area around the aircraft in a quick and safe manner and notify those nearby.
- Assess the situation for any additional safety threats (e.g. air or road traffic).
- Address any serious injuries and call Emergency Medical Services (911) if necessary.
- Once human injuries have been addressed, note all damages relevant to the accident. This includes both human injury and material or property damages.
- Any UAS incident involving a VT-owned aircraft or occurring on VT property must be reported to UASsafety@vtedu within 24 hours. You can find the necessary incident form here.
- Damages to property other than your drone in excess of $500, or incidence that result in human injury must be reported to the FAA within 10 days of the accident.
- Cease all UAS operations until told otherwise by the VT UAS Safety Office.
- The VT UAS Safety Office will work with you to discuss next steps.
Tools and Resources
The following is a list of tools that are recommended (and may be required) to be present at every drone operation:
- FAA Part 107 Certification
- Flight Binder
- Aircraft registration
- Pre-flight briefing checklist
- Pre-flight checklist
- Emergency checklist
- Emergency contacts
- Flight Log
- Aircraft manual
- First-aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Spare parts (e.g. propellers)/ tool bag