Page 11 - Tuskegee Airmen Drone License Preparatory Course. Chp 1 Manual.7.13.20_Neat
P. 11
Chapter 1: Supporting Crew Roles
A person who does not bold a remote pilot certificate or a remote pilot that has not met the
recuriment testing/training requirements of Part 107 may operate the flight controls of an sUAS
under Part 107, as long as he or she is directly supervised by a remote PIC and the remote PIC has
the ability to immediately take direct control of the sUAS. This ability is to ensure that the remote
PIC can quickly address any hazardous situation before an accident occurs.
The remote PIC can take over the flight controls by using a number of different methods. For
example the operation could involve a “buddy box” type of system that uses two control situations
(CS) one for the person manipulating the flight controls, and one for the remote PI that allows the
remote PIC to override the other CS and immediately take direct control of the small UA. Another
method involves the remote PIC standing close enough to the person manipulating the flight
controls to be able to physically take over the CS from that person. A third method could employ
the use of an automation system where by the remote PIC could immediately engage that system
to put the small UA in a pre-programmed “safe” mode (such as in a hover, in a holding pattern, or
“return home:”].
An autonomous operation is when the autopilot on board the UA performs certain functions
without direct pilot input, For example, the remote pilot can input a flight route into the CS, which
then sends it to the autopilot that is installed in the small UA. During autonomous flight, flight
control inputs are made by components onboard the aircraft, not from a CS. Thus, the remote PIC
could lose the control link to the small UA and the aircraft would still continue to fly the
programmed mission and/or return home to land.
When the UA is flying automatously, the remote PIC also must have the ability to change routing
or altitude, or to command the aircraft to land immediately. The ability to direct the small UA
may be thought manual manipulation of the flight controls of through commands using
automation. The remote PIC must retain the ability to direct the small UA to ensure compliance
with the requirements of Part 107. There are different methods a remote PIC may utilize to direct
the small UA to ensure compliance with Part 107. For example, the remote PIC may transmit a
command for the autonomous aircraft to climb, descend, land now, proceed to a new waypoint,
enter an orbit pattern, or return to home. Any of these methods may be used to satisfactorily avoid
a hazard or give right-of-way. The use of automation does not allow a person to simultaneously
operate more than one small UA.
The role of visual observers (VOs) is to alert the rest of the other about potential hazards during
sUAS operations. The use of Vos is optional. However, the remote PIC may use one or more Vos
to supplement situations awareness and VLOS responsibilities while the remote PIC is conducting
other mission-critical duties (such as checking displays). The remote PIC must make certain that
all Vos:
✓ Are positioned in a location where they are able to see the sUAS continuously and
sufficiently to maintain VLOS.
✓ Possess a means to effectively communicate the sUAS position and the position of other
aircraft to the remote PIC and person manipulating the controls.
DRONE PART 107 CERTICIFACTION PREPARATION COURSE 11
