Drone pilots reminded of rules during Hurricane Matthew SAR missions
CRASAR has issued guidelines for emergency agencies planning on using UAVs to aid search and rescue missions during Hurricane Matthew.
The Centre for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (CRASAR) at Texas University, US, has issued guidelines for emergency agencies planning on using UAVs to aid search and rescue missions during Hurricane Matthew.
The main advice given by CRASAR is aimed at amateur UAV pilots looking to use their equipment during operations, but also reminds agencies that they will still have to gain certain permissions before flying. CRASAR reminds them that, unless they hold the right licences, flying a UAV in a disaster zone is illegal. It points to the FAA ruling that disaster zones are a government activity. Those that do possess either a part 107 licence, 333 exemption or COA still have to keep an eye on whether they are flying in a controlled airspace or whether there are any special restrictions in place.
Potential flyers are also reminded of privacy laws that may be enforced, the privacy of the data collected by drones and the fact that some drones may have software which will disable it from flying in a disaster zone.