Forest
Service
File Code:
Route To:
Subject:
To:
Washington
Office
5700
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
Date:
August 10, 2011
Forest Service Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Acquisition, Use and Policy
Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Area Director, IITF Director
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operating in the national airspace system are considered by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) to be aircraft, regardless of size. In accordance, any planned use
(including through agreements with other agencies), acquisition, contracting or leasing of UAS must be
coordinated for approval by the Forest Service (FS) Washington Office (WO), Fire and Aviation
Management (FAM), Assistant Director Aviation. Additionally, the appropriate Regional Aviation
Officer should be included in approval of proposed UAS operations including a Project Aviation Safety
Plan (PASP).
The FAA Unmanned Aircraft Program Office has developed the Interim Operational Approval Guidance,
08-01(see link below), for UAS applications. FS policy regarding UAS is in FSM 5713.7. Unmanned
aircraft are to be considered the same as manned aircraft.
Robert (Bob) Roth, Washington Office, Fire and Aviation Management, will replace Paul Linse as the
principal technical contact for all FS UAS use, acquisition, contracting or leasing. Bob will be
responsible for technical assistance and coordination of approvals with the Assistant Director Aviation
and the Regions and can be reached at (406) 829-6712 or rroth@fs.fed.us .
Bob will work closely with the staff at the FS Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC) in the
planning, implementation, and approval of UAS flights. RSAC is researching and developing practical
applications for the remote sensing component of UAS for Forest Service natural resource and fire
applications. All FS leased, contracted, or owned UAS will require a Certificate of Authorization (COA)
from the FAA before operating within the national airspace system. The COA request process is
extensive and includes requirements similar to manned aircraft in terms of pilot training and currency,
airworthiness approval, avionics, and extensive operational restrictions. All COA requests shall be
coordinated through Bob Roth and approved by the Assistant Director Aviation.
UAS have the potential to be a viable tool for the FS in the future, but will require risk management,
extensive planning, coordination, and evaluation accomplished through deliberate steps to ensure success
of the program.
FAA 08-01 Link: http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/reg/media/uas_guidance08-01.pdf
T.C. Harbour
/s/
TOM HARBOUR
Director, Fire and Aviation Management
cc: Everett A Hinkley, Pat Norbury, John A Nelson, Ron Hanks, Karyn L Wood, Wm C Waterbury,
Arthur W Hinaman, Aaron L Schoolcraft, Ezequiel N Parrilla
America’s Working Forests – Caring Every Day in Every Way
Printed on Recycled Paper