Airspace Authorization

IR data collection of a fire line time can be significantly optimized if one is able to get approval to fly at an altitude above 400 feet and the data processing workflow allows for it.

There are a couple ways one could do this as covered by the FAA (these methods could also be used for emergency operations in controlled airspace).

⁠

https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/emergency_situations⁠

⁠

TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction)

SGI (Special Governmental Interest)

Have seen SGI permission granted up to 1,200 feet.

As part of the process one may need to fill out the “The FAA Request Form for Expedited SGI Waiver or Authorization for UAS Operation” and as part of this need to specify specific details of the flight area:

⁠

One easy way to plan and pull this information in the degrees/minutes/seconds format is to draw the area in Flight Hub 2 and change the format to DMS.

Remember to use a drawing tool tap it once and a blue triangle will appear in the top right, this means you are in drawing mode for that tool, after you are done drawing lines you have to tap it again to exit drawing mode and the blue triangle in the top right of the icon will disappear.

⁠

Note the form also does require measurement in nautical miles so one can use Google to convert the miles or feet shown to nautical miles:

⁠

There is also a request to measure to the closest airport which can also be done using the draw line tool.

If you are curious how far away a location will be from the flight line simply use the draw tool to draw a line, and then you can even just delete it instead of saving it after by tapping the line tool again.

⁠

There may be situations where you may be within controlled airspace and permission to fly higher is not available, LAANC can be used for automated approval up to the value listed in the FAA UAS facility grids.

You can turn on the GeoZone layer which now reflects the FAA data:

⁠

Overall though it is always best to check an FAA B4UFly Service:

https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/b4ufly⁠

⁠

I have always used Aloft AirAware:

https://airaware.aloft.ai/⁠

And follow your other pre-flight requirements/checklists such as notification to others who may be flying the area.

Gallery

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.