Aerospace and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policy

Effective:ÌýMarch 29, 2026

Approved by: Justin Schwartz, ChancellorÌý

Policy Owner: Vice Chancellor for Public SafetyÌý

Policy Contact: Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety Operations and Director of Flight Operations (DFO) Ìý

Applies to: Staff, faculty, students, authorized external affiliates, and third partiesÌý

I. Introduction

This policy governs the use of any aerospace or UAS vehicle owned, leased or operated by the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ (ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ), purchased with ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ funding, or operated for ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ business, research or other purposes. It also governs the procurement and use of any aerospace or UAS vehicle operated on or over university-owned, leased or controlled property (ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property). Additionally, this policy applies to any person operating aerospace or UAS vehicles in any location as part of their ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ activities including, but not limited to, research, teaching, student organizations or employment.Ìý

This policy shall be interpreted consistent with the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and other applicable international, federal, state and local laws and regulations. This policy and the related procedures are in addition to the FAR and are in no way intended to supersede the FAR, or other international, federal, state or local laws or regulations.Ìý

II. Definitions

Aerospace: Any form of aerial vehicle activity within Earth’s atmosphere, excluding space and UAS operations.Ìý

Aerospace or UAS operation: The use of an aerospace vehicle or UAS by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ staff, faculty, students, authorized external affiliates or third parties, not including UAS recreational flights.Ìý

Aerospace or UAS service: Any form of commercial service that employs an aerospace vehicle or UAS.Ìý

Authorized external affiliate: Any external organization approved by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ that collaborates with or assists in ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ-related aerospace or UAS pursuits.Ìý

Flight Operations Manual (FOM): The FOM contains the procedures adopted by the Director of Flight Operations for the permitted use of aerospace or UAS vehicles under this policy. The FOM outlines the minimum standard procedures for flights over, take-offs from, and landings on ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property and flights on behalf of ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ at other locations.Ìý

Third party: Any external organization or person operating an aerospace vehicle or UAS on behalf of ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ or on ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property.Ìý

Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS): An uncrewed aircraft and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the uncrewed aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system. Uncrewed aircraft, often referred to as a drone, means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

III. Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to:Ìý

  1. Establish the permitted use of any form of aerospace or UAS vehicles operated on or over ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property and elsewhere if the aerospace or UAS vehicle is owned, leased or operated by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ or for ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ business, research or other purposes;Ìý

  2. Establish the FOM as the procedures applicable to procurement or operation of aerospace or UAS vehicles on or over ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property and elsewhere if the aerospace or UAS vehicle is owned, leased or operated by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ or for ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ business, research or other purposes;Ìý

  3. Establish the governance structure responsible for overseeing aerospace and UAS operations at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ; andÌý

  4. Regulate the recreational use of aerospace or UAS vehicles on or over ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property.Ìý

This policy is applicable to:Ìý

  1. Faculty, staff, students, third parties and authorized external affiliates operating aerospace or UAS vehicles in any location as part of their ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ activities including, but not limited to, research, teaching, student organizations or employment;Ìý

  2. All forms of aerospace vehicles, excluding commercial spacecraft, regardless of size or weight, whether crewed or uncrewed, including, but not limited to, fixed wing aircraft, rotor aircraft, ultralight aircraft, uncrewed free balloons, moored balloons, kites, airships and model rockets;Ìý

  3. All forms of UAS, regardless of size or weight, including, but not limited to, model aircraft;Ìý

  4. Any person who operates aerospace or UAS vehicles on or over ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property;Ìý

  5. Any person who operates aerospace or UAS vehicles on or over ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property or elsewhere if the aerospace or UAS vehicle is owned, leased, or operated by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ or for ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ business, research or other purposes including persons not affiliated with ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ; andÌý

  6. Any person operating aerospace or UAS vehicles purchased with ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ funding including, but not limited to, funding from ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ accounts, grants or foundation accounts.Ìý

No aerospace or UAS vehicle may be used in a manner that violates the FOM or otherwise materially or substantially disrupts ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ’s mission or operations. Examples of prohibited disruption include, but are not limited to:Ìý

  1. Endangerment to personal safety or property;Ìý

  2. Negative impact on rights of privacy;Ìý

  3. Noise that disrupts classes, research or administrative business, travel or navigation of campus, or study and quiet enjoyment of housing and offices; andÌý

  4. Obstruction of, or interference with free movement of pedestrians and vehicles.Ìý

ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ has established an Uncrewed Aircraft System Advisory Committee (UAC) that advises the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and the senior vice chancellor for operations on UAS operations and required policy and operational changes. UAC members and the UAC chair are appointed by the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs or the senior vice chancellor for operations. At a minimum, members of UAC shall include the following roles or representatives:Ìý

  1. Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety OperationsÌý

  2. Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Integrity ComplianceÌý

  3. CUUF Committee ChairÌý

  4. Director of Flight Operations (ex officio non-voting)Ìý

  5. Research & Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles (RECUV) representativeÌý

  6. Integrated Remote & In-Situ Sensing (IRISS) representativeÌý

  7. ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Police Department (CUPD) representativeÌý

  8. Student Affairs representativeÌý

  9. Risk Management representativeÌý

  10. Researchers representing UAS activityÌý

Exceptions to this policy or to the FOM may be granted by the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs or the senior vice chancellor for operations following a risk review and recommendation by the appropriate ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ officer or department head.Ìý

Persons and organizations in violation of this policy or its associated procedures may be subject to discipline and penalties, as determined by applicable university policy for faculty, staff, students, third parties, and authorized external affiliates.ÌýÌý

IV. Roles and ResponsibilitiesÌý

  1. Uncrewed Aircraft System Advisory CommitteeÌýÌý
    1. Periodic review of the Aerospace and UAS Policy;ÌýÌý
    2. Review and advise on recommendations from the DFO or UAS Technical Advisory Committee (TAC);ÌýÌý
    3. Review exceptions to Aerospace and UAS Policy and provide recommendations to the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and the senior vice chancellor for operations; andÌýÌý
    4. Review high-risk UAS activity occurring on or over ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property and elsewhere if the UAS vehicle is owned, leased, or operated by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ or for ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ business, research, or other purposes.ÌýÌý
  1. Director of Flight OperationsÌýÌýÌý
    1. Create, revise, and publish ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ aerospace and UAS operational standards, best practices, internal processes, and training in collaboration with the UAS Advisory Committee and UAS Technical Advisory Committee;ÌýÌý
    2. Collaborate with University Counsel to monitor regulatory changes and coordinate with regulatory agencies as appropriate;ÌýÌý
    3. Provide guidance to ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ units (e.g., Pilots in Command) on relevant international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations and ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ policies and best practices;ÌýÌý
    4. Provide up to date training on safe and legal aerospace and UAS operations;ÌýÌý
    5. Collaborate with ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ units to understand their objectives and provide guidance on how to accomplish goals safely and legally;ÌýÌý
    6. Manage the airworthiness program for ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ;ÌýÌý
    7. Review and approve requests for aerospace and UAS operations on ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ property;ÌýÌý
    8. Provide recommendations on high-risk activities to the UAS advisory committee and other appropriate ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ constituents; andÌý
    9. Advise the executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and senior vice chancellor for operations on risk and provide guidance to units on mitigating risk.Ìý
  1. Department of Flight Operations: The support organization within DPS that manages, oversees, and facilitates all aspects of ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ’s aerospace and UAS activities.Ìý
  2. Office of Export Controls: The ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ department that manages the compliant transfer of controlled items or information to foreign nationals or foreign entities. The Department of Flight Operations collaborates with the Office of Export Controls regarding procurement of an aerospace or UAS vehicle, when an aerospace or UAS vehicle may be exported outside the United States, or when a foreign national may have access to controlled technical data related to certain UAS, as outlined in the FOM.Ìý
  3. Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG): The ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ department that oversees awards and assists faculty, staff, and students with managing sponsored activities. The Department of Flight Operations coordinates with OCG to approve all aerospace and UAS contracts and grants to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and to protect the interests of ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, as outlined in the FOM.Ìý

V. Related policies, forms, guidelines and other resourcesÌý

  1. Flight Operations ManualÌý

  2. Safety Action Report (upon request)Ìý

  3. Division of Public Safety FAQsÌý

  4. CUUF PolicyÌý

  5. Office of Export ControlsÌý

  6. Office of Contracts and GrantsÌý

  7. Ìý

VI. History

  1. Adopted: May 9, 2018Ìý

  2. Revised:ÌýMarch 29, 2026; Feb 1, 2024Ìý

  3. Last Reviewed:ÌýMarch 29, 2026Ìý