Safety Manual | 2022

8.16 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

and develop a plan to manage the risk. Part 107 waivers and authorizations are an official document issued by the FAA to approve certain operations of a UAV outside of typical flight operations. Reasons for waivers could be airspace authorization, night flights, or flying over people/vehicles. The application is submitted online , through an FAA portal. With the application a description of the proposed activities along with a description of the safety measures that will be practiced is required. Safety measures implements to reduce risk could be plan planned flights, multiple visual observers, specified maximum height, specified maximum distance from pilot descriptions or auxiliary equipment added to the UAV to help it be seen in low light. The waivers take any where from one day to multiple weeks for a response. An approval comes in the form of a Certification of Waiver or Authorization with a unique certificate number. (This is just one additional measure during the pre-mission planning. If a waiver is required for the flight, it must be applied for and time allowed for review). Check List, all UAV equipment (e.g. UAV shell, rotor blades, batteries, controller, iPad) is to be inspected and deemed to be in proper working condition. Any equipment that is found to be disfigured, loose, cracked, corrupted or otherwise damaged, is not to be used. If the mission will involve a VO, all communication equipment must be tested and found in proper working conditions. Battery levels of all equipment shall be checked and replaced or recharged if not found to have a proper charge. All mission team members shall review the terrain and the weather for the mission area and be prepared with appropriate clothing and PPE. All team members shall wear reflective clothing (e.g.: vest, jacket, etc.) and other PPE as is deemed appropriate for the conditions at the mission site. If the mission site is located adjacent to vehicular or pedestrian traffic, suitable barriers and warning devices (e.g.: cones, barriers, etc.) shall be deployed to segregate and protect the mission crew from moving vehicles and/or pedestrian traffic, as they could become a distraction, or could cause an injury to mission team members. These controls shall also serve to protect the public from injury from mission activities. Prior to the flight, the PIC and mission team shall employ the IMSAFE checklist to determine physical and mental readiness for the mission. Pre-flight Prior to the flight, and in accordance with the Operational

Purpose The purpose of this Section is to educate all BL

Companies’ Employees on the safe use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and safety practices that must be employed to minimize the risk of injury to the remote Pilot in Command (PIC), the Visual Observer (VO), other team members, and the public. Scope This section applies to all BL Companies’ Employees who are licensed and authorized to serve as a remote PIC and all BL Companies’ Employees who may be involved as part of the UAV field crew. Policy It is the policy of BL Companies to employ safety-related planning and operational practices to prevent injury to Employees and the public throughout pre-flight, flight and post-flight UAV operations. Overview BL Companies’ UAVs are to be used for Company business only and shall only be operated by BL Companies’ Employees holding a valid Remote Pilot Airman Certificate with a small UAV rating or be under the direct supervision of a BL Companies’ Employee who is serving as the remote PIC who holds one. Use of personal UAVs for Company business is not permitted. Those operating a UAV must complete and follow the UAV Operational Check List to ensure pre-mission, pre-flight, flight, and post flight tasks are completed and executed in proper sequence. The minimum recommended mission crew size is two (2), consisting of the PIC and a PIC attendant. If a VO will be used, the minimum recommended crew size is three (3), consisting of the PIC, the VO, and the PIC attendant. Pre-mission Prior to any mission, the proposed flight area is to be inspected to identify any ground or aerial hazards and to establish a safe operating take-off/landing area. The project JSA, JHA and HASP (if applicable) should be consulted for additional hazards that should be anticipated. All parties that will be participating in the mission shall be briefed on the nature and extent of the mission, and all potential hazards are to be reviewed. Mission team members must identify safety related hazards or risks (e.g. obstructions, weather, terrain, etc.)

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