Has anyone got a BVLOS waiver for a dock-based DFR programme in the US?

Diego RamosDFR programme manager, Coastal County3 h agoWhatsApp

We're putting two docks on rooftops for our drone-as-first-responder pilot. Has anyone here actually got a BVLOS waiver for a dock setup, not a pilot with a visual observer?

Mainly want to know what the FAA pushed back on and how long it took.

Priya NairSolutions engineer3 h agoWhatsApp

Diego RamosWe're putting two docks on rooftops for our drone-as-first-responder pilot. Has anyone here actually got a BVLOS waiver for a dock setup, not a pilot with a visual observer? Mainly want to know what the FAA pushed back on and how long it took.

A few of the agencies we work with have. The big one is how you detect and avoid crewed traffic without a VO. Are you planning ADS-B in, radar, or both?

Diego RamosDFR programme manager, Coastal County3 h agoWhatsApp

Priya NairA few of the agencies we work with have. The big one is how you detect and avoid crewed traffic without a VO. Are you planning ADS-B in, radar, or both?

ADS-B in on each dock for now. Radar isn't in this year's budget.

Lena FischerRegulatory affairs, Alpenfly2 h agoWhatsApp

The answer

We did one for a county last spring. What the FAA asked for, in order:

Shielded operations: stay within 50 ft of structures and below their tops where you can. That carried most of the argument.
ADS-B in plus a written procedure for when traffic appears: climb, descend or land, who decides and in how many seconds.
C2 link: proof of coverage over the whole area and what the drone does when it is lost.
Training records for every remote pilot, including the dock-specific parts.

Took about four months from first submission, with one round of questions. Happy to share our ConOps template (redacted).

Diego RamosDFR programme manager, Coastal County2 h agoWhatsApp

Lena FischerWe did one for a county last spring. What the FAA asked for, in order: Shielded operations: stay within 50 ft of structures and below their tops where you can. That carried most of the argument. ADS-B in plus a written procedure for when traffic appears: climb, descend or land, who decides and in how many seconds. C2 link: proof of coverage over the whole area and what the drone does when it is lost. Training records for every remote pilot, including the dock-specific parts. Took about four months from first submission, with one round of questions. Happy to share our ConOps template (redacted).

This is gold, thank you. Yes please on the template 🙌

Lena FischerRegulatory affairs, Alpenfly1 h agoWhatsApp

Sent it in the group. It's the PDF below 👇

ConOps template, dock BVLOS (redacted)PDF · 14 pages

Kenji WatanabeAutonomy researcher1 h agoWhatsApp

Lena FischerWe did one for a county last spring. What the FAA asked for, in order: Shielded operations: stay within 50 ft of structures and below their tops where you can. That carried most of the argument. ADS-B in plus a written procedure for when traffic appears: climb, descend or land, who decides and in how many seconds. C2 link: proof of coverage over the whole area and what the drone does when it is lost. Training records for every remote pilot, including the dock-specific parts. Took about four months from first submission, with one round of questions. Happy to share our ConOps template (redacted).

Worth adding: if the proposed Part 108 rule goes through as drafted, a lot of this moves from waiver to permit. Keep the paperwork tidy so you can reuse it.