Operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones on Campus)

A device used or intended to be used for flight in the air that has no onboard operator.  Unmanned aircraft do not include balloons, rockets, or unpowered gliders.

means an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is onboard or attached to the aircraft. 

means a Small Unmanned Aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the sUAS) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the sUAS in the national airspace system. sUAS are commonly referred to as “drones.”

Person(s) in direct control and command of a sUAS.

UNC Greensboro colleges, divisions, departments, units, programs, centers, and institutes, as well as their designated University employees. This category may also include agents or contractors of UNC Greensboro.

Inside an enclosed space that can be reasonably expected to prevent an Unmanned Aircraft from exiting the space while in flight.

Any Unmanned Aircraft activity or use by a Department or Unit, or an individual or company hired by a Department or Unit, performed within the scope of a Departmental sUAS Program Registration for the purpose of education, instruction, photography, research, promotion, publicity, or other University business purposes, including indoor and outdoor activity.

Any Unmanned Aircraft activity or use that is not conducted by a Department or Unit, or an individual or company hired by a Department or Unit, within the scope of a Departmental sUAS Program Registration for University business purposes. This can include Hobby or Recreational Flights or flights performed for commercial purposes that are not within the scope of a Departmental sUAS Program Registration.

The registration that is required to be submitted to the Office of Enterprise Risk Management by each Department or Unit in order to conduct a University Activity.

The person who is responsible for managing the Departmental sUAS Program Registration and the main point of contact for the Department or Unit sUAS use.

sUAS Operator who has been approved to serve as operator of a sUAS for a Department or Unit.

A plan that is submitted to UNC Greensboro at least three business days prior to flight for both University Activities and Non-University Activities on University Premises.

Buildings or grounds owned, leased, operated, controlled, or managed by UNC Greensboro.

sUA flights that are not for business purposes; only for hobby and recreation. sUA must be kept within visual sightline of the operator. Please use the following link to see some FAA “dos” and “don’ts” relating to hobbyist/recreational flying: https://www.faa.gov/uas/publications/model_aircraft_operators/

Office of Enterprise Risk Management shall have oversight of all operations of sUAS for University Activities and Non-University Activities.

UNC Greensboro Police Department shall collaborate with the Office of Enterprise Risk Management to promote the safe operation of sUAS.

UNC Greensboro Police Department and the Office of Enterprise Risk Management may consult with the Office of Institutional Integrity and General Counsel, and other Departments, Units or sUAS operators as needed to ensure the safe operation of sUAS.

All Departments or Units that intend to use sUAS for University Activities shall complete a Departmental sUAS Program Registration as soon as practicable, but no later than ten (10) business days prior to the first intended University Activity. A link to the Departmental sUAS Program Registration process can be found on the University’s sUAS webpage.

Departmental sUAS Program Registrations shall be updated anytime there are changes to the Department or Unit sUAS use, but at a minimum, the Departmental sUAS Program Registration shall be reviewed and updated annually by the Departmental sUAS Program Coordinator or designee, and submitted to the Office of Enterprise Risk Management.

A University Flight Plan must be submitted to the University through the sUAS Program Registration process by the Department or Unit at least three business days before initiating each University Activity. A link to the University Flight Plan form can be found on the University’s sUAS webpage.

Following review of Departmental sUAS Program Registration and University Flight Plan, the University may require additional revisions to the University Flight Plan to ensure the safety of people and property on University Premises.

Operating sUAS indoors for a University Activity on University Premises is only permitted if the University Flight Plan is approved by the University, through the sUAS Registration Process, which includes consultation between Office of Enterprise Risk Management, the UNC Greensboro Police Department, and any applicable building manager.

The University sUAS Operator must report all sUAS incidents (i.e., accidents, damage to University property, injuries, complaints) to the Department or Unit head; as well as the Office of Enterprise Risk Management immediately, but in any event no later than twenty-four (24) hours after an incident has occurred. An sUAS accident report can be found on the University’s sUAS website.

If a University Activity will be conducted in airspace over land that is not University Premises, a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the University and the landowner must be negotiated and signed prior to sUAS use over such land. The MOU template can be found on the University’s sUAS website, and any requests for changes to the template must be negotiated and approved by the Office of Institutional Integrity and General Counsel.

Any data recorded during the operation of a sUAS for a University Activity must be maintained in accordance with the University’s Electronic Records Retention Policy.

A University sUAS Operator must be listed on the Departmental sUAS Program Registration and provide proof of the following:

1. Has been approved by the Department or Unit head to serve as a University sUAS Operator;
2. Has obtained a Remote Pilot Certificate and Federal Airmen Certification number;
3. Passed North Carolina sUAS knowledge test and obtained a North Carolina sUAS Operator Permit; and
4. Has at least five (5) hours of sUAS flight experience under the supervision of an approved University sUAS Operator.

University sUAS Operators must also include in the Departmental sUAS Program Registration a signed acknowledgement that:

1. The University sUAS Operator will comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
2. The University sUAS Operator will not hover over areas of public assembly or a stadium without prior approval from the University.
3. The University sUAS Operator must not photograph, record video, or monitor areas where other members of the University community or members of the general public would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

All sUAS used for University Activities must first be registered with the FAA.

All sUAS used for University Activities must be listed in the Departmental sUAS Program Registration before being operated.

Departments and Units must obtain general liability insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000 naming UNC Greensboro as an additional insured party for its sUAS that would cover the Department or Unit’s proposed activity. Departments and Units must contact UNC Greensboro’s Office of Enterprise Risk Management in order to obtain this insurance.

University sUAS Operators who are University employees and who do not operate sUAS legally for a University Activity may have no coverage under the University’s sUAS liability insurance and may be held personally liability for claims or losses arising out of their activities.

Individuals or companies desiring to operate a sUAS on University Premises for commercial photography or filming purposes must contact University Communications prior to conducting any flights and must submit a University Flight Plan through the sUAS Registration Process.

Persons who wish to operate a sUAS on University Premises for Non-University Activities must submit a University Flight Plan at least three (3) business days before the proposed date of the flight. A link to the University Flight Plan form can be found on the University’s sUAS webpage.

Hobby and Recreational Flights should take place in the recommended areas identified on the University’s sUAS webpage.

The operation of a sUAS indoors on University Premises is prohibited without prior approval through the Departmental sUAS Program Registration process.

Any non-University sUAS Operator who wishes to record campus events or performances must obtain additional advance approval from the event or performance organizer and University Communications, who will work in conjunction with the UNC Greensboro Police Department.

All flights must be at least 50 feet from the surfaces (including both vertical uppers or lowers and the horizontal surfaces (roofs)) of buildings or fixed objects.

No flights are allowed at night (after sunset) or in low visibility weather without prior approval, through the Departmental sUAS Program Registration process.

No flights are allowed over stadiums or sports events without prior approval through the Departmental sUAS Program Registration process.

No flights are allowed near emergency response efforts.

All flights over University Premises must use all built-in GPS guidance systems of the sUAS.