UAS Test Site Documentation Structure and SOP Flashcards
Reviewed Quarterly to ensure SOP is understood, up to date, and followed during all operations.
Who has document authority over the SOP?

Matt Scassero
What is the UMD-UASM-210?

Airworthiness Evaluation Process: AWE-P The -210 establishes the standards by which aircraft are evaluated and determined to be “airworthy”.
What is the UMD-UASM-211?

Statement of Airworthiness: SOA A -211 is the official document that establishes an aircraft’s airworthiness and is the culmination of completing the evaluation process and submitting “the packet” (-210, -212, -213 and -214) to the University of Maryland for review and approval. Pending the findings and recommendations established by completing the evaluation process prescribed within the -210 and recorded within the - 212, the Statement of Airworthiness must then be approved and signed prior to the aircraft being considered “airworthy”.
What is the UMD-UASM-212?

HAZLOG: Hazards log The -212 exists to capture the results of a given airworthiness evaluation and to provide targeted insights specifically regarding items not deemed “acceptable. Additionally, the -212 captures item specific notes (to include possible mitigations) and calculates composite risks associated with all noteworthy items.
What is the UMD-UASM-213?

Risk Matrix: RM The -213 is a product of the evaluation that establishes operational risk thresholds as a result of determined aircraft capabilities and limitations. -213’s, once established for a given aircraft, are required to be filled out prior to any/all operations of that specific system (in the relevant configuration).
What is the UMD-UASM-214?

Flight Clearance: FC The -214 is a flight clearance authorization at the Test Site level (signed by the Test Site Director) and serves as a record of all system-specific details relevant to the airframe model (configuration) being evaluated. There are two types of Flight Clearance Authorizations. Flight Clearance authorizations are completed on a case by case basis at the discretion of the Director
What are the two types of flight clearance authorizations for an airworthiness?

Interim Flight Clearances allow the operations team to request/obtain approval to complete functional check flights for the purposes of ongoing prototype development and/or the completion of airworthiness evaluation items requiring in-flight observation. Operational Flight Clearances are approved once all evaluation items are addressed and serve as a recommendation to UMD for the approval of a Statement of Airworthiness.
What is the UMD-UASM-200?

Safety Management Systems: SMS To establish and set forth safety management systems for the implementation and sustainable operation of the University of Maryland UAS Test Site’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and associated equipment.
Who has document authority over the SMS and ASO-CL?

James Alexander
What is the UMD-UASM-201?

Aviation Safety Officer Checklist: ASO-CL Due to the nature of aviation and the purposes for which the UAS Test Site conducts operations, checklists are necessary to ensure safe, effective and sustainable operations. Those individuals who have been designated as an Aviation Safety Officer (ASO) must employ this checklist prior to and during operations.
What is the UMD-UASM-100?

Standard Operation Procedures: SOP To establish and set forth standardized operational guidance regarding the functional aspects of the UAS Test Site’s day-to-day operations to include the implementation and sustainable operation of the Test Site’s unmanned aircraft systems and associated equipment.
Where can all Test Site Documents be found?

On Box
SOP 1: The Standardization Initiative and Airmanship Principles-

The UAS Test Site Operations Team declares to: 1. Fully know and understand all aircraft and equipment we operate and maintain; to include their capabilities and limitations in normal and non-normal scenarios. 2. Ensure all operators know their capabilities, their limitations and personal habits that effect safety (rushing, impulsive, communication barriers, personal issues, financial issues). These items will be regularly discussed and reinforced through proper training and risk management. 3. Know each and every project’s environment, the airspace, the forecast weather, any ground considerations and the overall scope of operations. 4. Know each team (and team member), conduct briefings, use observers, communicate (actively and effectively), be positive and resolve conflicts quickly and fairly (focus on system not the person). 5. Know the risks and always conducts a thorough risk assessment. 6. Stay proficient, practice and conduct ‘dry runs’ of complex operations, and scenario-based training for emergencies. 7. Have the discipline to keep up to date on the latest safety and operational knowledge, including technical information regarding our platforms.
SOP 2: *Organizational Structure* Test Site Director-

The Director holds full control over the UAS Test Site and is the final approval authority concerning operational focus, project execution, business development, risk mitigation, and new technology integration/purchasing. The Director will take advisement from other members of the UAS Test Site team (specifically the Chief of Safety and the Chief Pilot) regarding the execution and focus of operations/training.
SOP 2: *Organizational Structure* Chief of Safety-

The Chief of Safety is responsible for the establishment of adequate safety management systems covering the scope of operations performed by the Test Site. The Chief of Safety will be a “competent person” in the UAS field with a functional understanding of aviation practices as well as the UAS Test Site-owned systems and their general operation in order to create and implement effective risk identification and mitigation protocols. Additionally, he/she will manage aspects of the UAS Test Site’s ESOP and maintain a library of relevant OSHA policies. The Chief of Safety advises the Chief Pilot and the Director of program deficiencies and identified hazards to include recommended/required actions and mitigations.
SOP 2: *Organizational Structure* Chief Pilot-

The Chief Pilot is the primary liaison to the Director, the Chief of Safety, Project Managers and the Operations Team; advising on operational readiness, asset availability, barriers to project completion and capability gaps. Additionally, the Chief Pilot is the custodian of The UAS Test Site’s operational manuals and policies; ensuring their effectiveness and availability while providing recommendations to the Director and/or Chief of Safety regarding changes/improvements to procedural doctrine, crew and equipment management and necessary improvements to all aspects of operation. The UAS Test Site Chief Pilot works directly with the Chief of Safety to ensure operational practices are in keeping with the Test Site’s Safety Management Systems (SMS)(UMD-UASM-200-SMS) and initiates changes to operational protocols based on any/all safety deficiencies identified or improvements recommended by the Chief of Safety. The Chief Pilot for the Test Site is responsible for the execution of all flight events and the management of the UAS Test Site Operations Teamworking directly with and advising those team members to ensure all operational standards are met and the overall readiness of the program is adequately managed. The Operations Lead must maintain a high level of proficiency on all Test Site owned systems/sensors and are, themselves, a functional member of the Ops Team.
SOP 2: *Organizational Structure* Test Site Operations Team-

Members of the UAS Test Site’s Operations Team are responsible for the mobilization of equipment (travel) and execution of system operations in support of Test Site projects. This includes but is not limited to the operation of: •Ground Transportation Vehicles(Mobile Ops Center) •Unmanned Aircraft Systems(UAS)•Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) (Watercraft) •Sensors for Data Capture (Remote Sensing)including but not limited to: -Video -Photo/Photogrammetry -EO/IRo -LiDAR *In most cases team members will be required to maintain proficiency in the operation of multiple systems
SOP 3: *Operational Overview* Test Site Operations can be separated into the following three categories-

1.UMD UAS Test Site Flight Operation (e.g. research projects, flight demonstrations, training/currency, etc.) 2.Consulting/Observing (e.g. another company’s Part 107 operation) 3.Technology Demonstration –a sufficient Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is required to be considered a technology demonstration. Projects must be fully tested/vetted by UMD prior to scheduling a technology demonstration with observers
SOP 4: *Individuals Authorized to Operation Test Site Aircraft* Employees of the UAS Test Site who-

(1) hold a remote pilot certification as dictated by 14 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft. (2) have been directly assigned to the UAS Test Sitein an operational capacity, validated by an Operational Appointment Letter(Appendix A); (3) have received a UAS Test Siteprogram orientation(Section 6 andAppendix B); (4) have completed the relevant, pre-requisite system training (Section 13-15 (as applicable)) with the necessary entrees recorded in their Individual flight record (Section 7) and; (5) comply with the necessary currency requirements defined within this SOP.
SOP 4: *Individuals Authorized to Operation Test Site Aircraft* Those individuals (herein referred to as “Visiting Personnel”) who-

(1) hold a remote pilot certification as dictated by 14 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR)Part107 Small Unmanned Aircraft. (2) have been directly assigned to a UAS Test Siteproject(s)in an operational capacity; (3) have received a UAS Test Siteprogram orientation(Section 6 andAppendix B); (4) have received an Operational Appointment Letter(Appendix A) and; (6) have completed the relevant, pre-requisite system training (Section 13-15 (as applicable)) with the necessary entrees recorded in their Individual flight record (Section 7). A UAS Test Site RPIC, qualified on the relevant aircraft, is required to be on site during all Temporary Personnel operations.
SOP 5: *Aircrew Roles and Responsibilities* Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC)-

The RPIC has final authority over the operation of the UAS to include validating and maintenance/serviceability of the aircraft and associated equipment as well as ensuring the security of sensor components prior to launch and are regarded as the overall authority of any flight to which they are assigned. An RPIC must be designated before each flight and their selection should be based on qualification, currency and experience level. The Ops Team is authorized to assign qualified RPIC’s to each flight at their own discretion. Depending on the complexity of the system being flown and the airspace in which the operation takes place, the certification requirements for the RPIC may vary. For flights operated under an FAA COA, the crew requirements are clearly stated in the COA approval. For operations in segregated airspace (Restricted Areas, Warning Areas, etc.), the military authority or range commander will set the crew certification requirements. Under no circumstances will the requirements set by the airspace authority (FAA or military) be relaxed without written approval from the airspace authority.
SOP 5: *Aircrew Roles and Responsibilities* Competency vs Designation-

The UAS Test Site’s intent is to train all Ops Team members to the highest level on their respectively assigned aircraft and equipment. As such, it is possible (and likely) that some or all members of a given flight crew will be qualified and could effectively be designated to the RPIC position. It is important that this responsibility be directly assigned to a single individual for every flight and that person be clearly identified in the mission brief. Provided that more than one individual may hold the aptitude and qualification to be designated as an RPIC, it is important for all crew members to recognize who has been identified as the RPIC for a given mission and to defer to their intent and direction throughout the execution of the flight. The RPIC will have the final say in all aspects concerning the flight to include, altitude changes, heading adjustments, early flight termination and any other necessary deviation from the briefed flight plan. While it is technically possible that the designated RPIC may change during the flight the UAS Test Site prohibits any change to the RPIC after the aircraft is airborne
SOP 5: *Aircrew Roles and Responsibilities* Access and control-

The RPIC does not have to be in direct control of the aircraft but must remain within the immediate proximity of operations to ensure they can obtain control quickly if needed. To this extent, the RPIC should be on the external (hand) controls (or system equivalent) as this position has the most direct line of control to the aircraft. Qualifications needed: •Must meets all requirements outlined in Section 3 UMD-UASM-100-SOP16 •Must be trained and approved as an Aircraft Operator(AO) *system specific Once approved by an Instructor, and all other relevant qualifications are verified, an RPIC designation will be reflected in the individual’s flight records.
SOP 5: *Aircrew Roles and Responsibilities* Aircraft operator (AO)-

Personnel assigned to a flight who have direct contact with the aircraft flight controls (via hand controls or Ground Control Station (GCS)) are considered an Aircraft Operator (AO). This position works as a member of the flight crew to maintain safe flight operations and ensures the proper data is being recorded. The core function of the AO is to safely operate the aircraft. Additionally, AOs must be familiar with specific aircraft assembly and maintenance. Qualifications needed: •Must meets all requirements outlined in Section 3 •Must have completed the required coursework and training requirements associated with the specific airframe being operated.*Training must be documented in the individual’s Operator Flight Record (OFR)(Sec.) specifically with a written designation on their UMD-UASR-101.*system specific


















