Section 2. Administration

2.1 - Administrative Control

This unmanned aircraft system research project is under the administrative control of the Center for Disaster Risk Policy (CDRP) at Florida State University. CDRP is the applied research center and part of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program within the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.

All UAS operations must comply with CDRP and/or DIRT policies and procedures, University policies and procedures, as well as state, local and federal laws and regulations.

All UAS program participants must comply with the DIRT Standard Operating Guide in addition to this document.

The UAS Program Director is the Director of the Center for Disaster Risk Policy at Florida State University or their designee. The UAS Program Director is the sole authority and responsibility for all administrative program decisions, including budgeting, equipment, training, policy, and operations. The UAS Program Director may appoint crew and certify any member as qualified to fill a crew role or position.

2.2 - Authority to Task

Only the UAS Program Director or their delegates have the authority to task or assign any UAS resources (including but not limited to aircraft, personnel, or equipment) to any project, mission, or other assignment.

This authority in no way overrides common sense or the safety concerns of any pilot or crewmember. Any tasking, mission, or request to operate a UAS can be refused at any time without repercussion to the crewmember. This allows for safe and secure discussions to be had regarding relative risks to the aircraft, payload, crew, or persons on the ground.

2.3 - Maintenance of this Document

This Standard Operating Guide is maintained and updated by the Center for Disaster Risk Policy and approved by the Director of CDRP or designee.

2.4 - Coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration

For purposes of correspondence with the FAA, to include (but not limited to) aircraft registration, Certificate of Authorization (COA) applications, incident reporting, operational reporting, etc., this research program should be identified as:

Center for Disaster Risk Policy Florida State University 113 Collegiate Loop Bellamy 638 Tallahassee, FL 32306-2250 850.644.9961 uas@cdrp.net