Standardization and Interoperability of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) for Disaster Management

There are many recognized use cases for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in emergency and disaster management, but there are obstacles to the full realization of this technology’s potential. More stringent training and certification requirements for public safety use of sUAS is a crucial step in achieving standardization of operations, a common operational picture, interoperability, increased airspace safety, and public acceptance. The purpose of this study is to move toward standards for public safety sUAS pilot training requirements. This research employs a mixed methods approach to investigate the current state of training requirements and trends in public safety sUAS programs. This included a review of the relevant literature, an analysis of survey data, and a combination of structured and semi-structured interviews. While the literature clearly shows many sUAS emergency management applications, it also identifies dangers that must be mitigated. Synthesizing the literature findings with the survey and interview data resulted in four categories of possible sUAS training standard recommendations: progressive levels of certification, flight time minimums, task-focused practical training, and proficiency demonstrations. These recommendations have both national and international applicability.