Podcast: By Dr. Joe Burgett The Ten Step Method to Conducting a Successful UAS Mission
Based on the Clemson Drone Podcast page, here is a summary of the 10-step method outlined by Dr. Joe Burgett for conducting a successful and safe Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) mission:
Step 1) Receive Mission Request: Get the assignment from the Operations Manager and establish a clear understanding of the objectives.
Step 2) Project Feasibility & Risk Assessment: Analyze risks formally by creating a written plan for the Operations Manager. This requires checking airspace, weather, equipment, creating an Aloft.ai mission, generating a Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) score, and annotating a satellite image of the site.
Step 3) Review B.U.R.G. Manual Checklists: Review the structured checklists (from a week prior up to the morning of the mission). Before heading out, ensure the drone and controller are fully charged, the drone bag and Flight Book are packed, and weather/airspace are re-checked.
Step 4) Conduct a Job Safety Assessment (JSA): Finalize the safety assessment live at the mission site to account for real-time, physical hazards.
Step 5) Complete Pre-Flight Checklists: Complete the mandatory pre-flight checklist from the UAS Flight Book and hold a pre-mission crew safety meeting.
Step 6) Conduct Flight: Execute the actual drone flight.
Step 7) Review Data: Inspect the collected data on-site to ensure it successfully meets the mission objectives before packing up.
Step 8) Complete Flight Log: Record the flight details in the UAS Flight Book log.
Step 9) After-Action-Review (AAR): Hold a brief debrief with the crew to discuss what went well and what could be improved.
Step 10) Post-Flight Procedures: Wipe down the gear, download and securely store the data, charge the batteries to a safe storage level (between 40% and 80%), and return all equipment to the Operations Manager.
The episode also highlights several industry tools for operators, including SkyVector for sectional charts, Aloft for LAANC airspace authorizations, and Drone Logbooks for record-keeping.