Examples for FAA compliance in Emergency Operations

Part 107 Pilots Need the FAA *SGI Waiver approval:

If you fly your drone in any of the following examples, which is probably mostly every single time you fly your drone, you will need a waiver.

Active shooter, assault, high risk warrants, hostage, or robbery situation-Need to get drone behind building to view suspects using BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) *107.31 and at night without anti-collision lights *107.29, and/or ceiling above 400 feet *107.51 and needing a large radius of area coverage. (Night starts 30 minutes after sunset and ends 30 minutes before sunrise. Must transmit Remote ID, and have anti-collision lighting visible from 3 statute miles, flash or strobe between 40 and 100 times per minute to fly without a waiver)

Searching for a missing person in the woods-you need BVLOS *107.31 and due to a large mountain and trees greater than 400 foot ceiling *107.51.

Rescue Operation in reduced visibility *107.51 and multiple small, unmanned aircraft *107.35. Minimum visibility is defined as no less than three statute miles. (fog, smoke, rain)

Crowd monitoring, civil unrest, active crime scene overwatch, or over large crowds with possible terrorist threat- (Political, religious, international, protests) need operations over human beings *107.39 waiver. 

Hazmat Incidents-need greater than 400’ altitude *107.51b or BVLOS *107.31 or limited visibility *107.51

Natural Disasters need higher altitude *107.51b during minimum visibility *107.51 and operation near aircraft or airport *107.37.

Pursuit of a fleeing suspect, Reckless, driving or collisions, troublesome traffic areas monitoring aggressive drivers, or traffic crash reconstruction using BVLOS *107.31 or operating over moving vehicles *107.145 or need SGI operations from a moving vehicle or aircraft *107.25, and operations at night *107.29, and ground speed faster than 100 mph *107.51 chasing a vehicle 

Firefighting efforts-need multiple unmanned aircraft *107.35 operations above 400 feet *107.51b during minimum visibility from thick smoke *107.51c Minimum visibility is defined as no less than three statute miles. Using BVLOS *107.31 for fire reconnaissance. 

 You are in a restricted airspace, including near a hospital heliport or airport-need SGI waiver to fly in TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) zones.

Anytime you are working with a VO (Visual Observer) *107.33

Flying near clouds *107.51d,

The minimum distance from clouds must be no less than:

(1) 500 feet below the cloud; and

(2) 2,000 feet horizontally from the cloud.

BVLOS *107.31 waiver is required for any amount of time the UAS will be out of line of sight

(* FAA REQUIRED SGI WAIVER REGULATIONS OR WAIVER APPROVALS REQUIRED FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS)