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Public Works Engineering

Assistant County Engineer | Engineering Division Manager

Thomas Weller, P.E.

	Drone Program - Skagit County Public Works
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS: sUAS Policy Incident Report sUAS Checklist FAA Flight Risk Guidelines	Skagit County launched its small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) (a.ka. Drone) Program beginning in early 2023. This program supports an FAA-certified commercial remote pilot using proven hardware and software solutions configured for consistently safe and efficient data gathering for Public Works projects. Our certified remote pilot operates under a locally developed and approved set of standards for Skagit County and follows established workflows for data management. Learn more about our Drone Program, including applications and advantages! CLICK HERE Meet Genesis 1, Drone Model DJI Matrice 300 RTK FLIGHT LOG April, 13, 2023: Public Works will be flying the marsh lands on Guemes Island south of Eden’s Road for Natural Resources to locate evidence of beaver activity (dams). The pilot will be flying over Skagit County Land Trust Property P32751 P32752 P32755 P32756 with representatives on site during the flight. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is the difference between recreational and commerical drone flights? Flying for recreational purposes means flying only for fun. Flying for work, payment, or as part of any business (even if not being paid) is commercial flying. Commercial pilots must be certified be the FAA under the CFR 14 Part 107 guidelines. Commercial drones must be registered with the FAA and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). What does Skagit County Public Works use a drone for? Provide precise topographic mapping of existing conditions for County infrastructure projects such as road, facility, trail, bridge, parks, and solid-waste projects. Provide volumetric measurement for management of County pits, quarries, and stockpile material resources. Provide situational awareness and damage assessment of storms, floods, earthquakes, and landslides by providing video, still photos and other electronic data of the disaster area. Provide video and still photos of County projects and facilities for communication with the public. What uses are prohibited under the Skagit County Public Works Drone Program? Skagit County Public Works shall NOT use a drone or other unmanned aircraft to gather evidence or other information pertaining to criminal conduct or conduct in violation of a statute, ordinance, regulation, or rule, except as authorized by state and federal law. The sUAS Program shall not be used to unlawfully harass or intimidate persons. The sUAS Program shall not be used to conduct personal business of any type. The sUAS Program shall not be used for any flight operations prohibited by 14 CFR Part 107 regulations unless FAA waivers or authorizations have been acquired. Can Skagit County Public Works fly drones over private property? Skagit County can legally fly a drone over private property and houses in Washington State, provided that the owner's privacy is not being invaded, property is not being damaged, and people's lives are not being put at risk. Washington State Drone laws can be found HERE. FAA CFR 14 Part 107 laws can be found HERE. Can Skagit County Public Works fly near airport? Yes. The FAA requires drone pilots to request an airspace authorization through Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) to operate in controlled airspace. Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments. How would a person report a drone operation potentially violating FAA rules or regulations? If your report involves a drone not following FAA rules or regulations while flying within the National Airspace System, contact the FAA HERE or your local Flight Standards District Office. Resource Links: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) https://www.faa.gov/uas https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/#/ https://www.faa.gov/uas/contact_us/report_uas_sighting https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange Code of Federal Regulation (CFR 14 Part 107) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107 United States Drone Laws https://drone-laws.com/usa-drone-laws-in-usa/ Washington State Drone Laws https://drone-laws.com/drone-laws-in-washington-state/ https://www.thedroneu.com/blog/washington-state-drone-laws/ https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/aviation/pilots-aircraft/uncrewed-aircraft-systems-and-commercial-drone-registration Questions or Concerns? Jason McCauley, Public Works Engineering (360) 416-1433 jmccauley@co.skagit.wa.us	Contact Public Works Engineering Assistant County Engineer \| Engineering Division Manager Thomas Weller, P.E. 1800 Continental Place Mount Vernon, WA 98273 Phone: (360) 416-1400 Fax: (360) 416-1405 email: pw@co.skagit.wa.us

Drone Program - Skagit County Public Works

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS:

sUAS Policy

Incident Report

sUAS Checklist

FAA Flight Risk Guidelines

Skagit County launched its small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) (a.ka. Drone) Program beginning in early 2023. This program supports an FAA-certified commercial remote pilot using proven hardware and software solutions configured for consistently safe and efficient data gathering for Public Works projects.

Our certified remote pilot operates under a locally developed and approved set of standards for Skagit County and follows established workflows for data management.

Learn more about our Drone Program, including applications and advantages!
CLICK HERE

Meet Genesis 1, Drone Model DJI Matrice 300 RTK

FLIGHT LOG

April, 13, 2023:

Public Works will be flying the marsh lands on Guemes Island south of Eden’s Road for Natural Resources to locate evidence of beaver activity (dams). The pilot will be flying over Skagit County Land Trust Property P32751 P32752 P32755 P32756 with representatives on site during the flight.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the difference between recreational and commerical drone flights?

Flying for recreational purposes means flying only for fun. Flying for work, payment, or as part of any business (even if not being paid) is commercial flying. Commercial pilots must be certified be the FAA under the CFR 14 Part 107 guidelines. Commercial drones must be registered with the FAA and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

What does Skagit County Public Works use a drone for?

Provide precise topographic mapping of existing conditions for County infrastructure projects such as road, facility, trail, bridge, parks, and solid-waste projects.

Provide volumetric measurement for management of County pits, quarries, and stockpile material resources.

Provide situational awareness and damage assessment of storms, floods, earthquakes, and landslides by providing video, still photos and other electronic data of the disaster area.

Provide video and still photos of County projects and facilities for communication with the public.

What uses are prohibited under the Skagit County Public Works Drone Program?

Skagit County Public Works shall NOT use a drone or other unmanned aircraft to gather evidence or other information pertaining to criminal conduct or conduct in violation of a statute, ordinance, regulation, or rule, except as authorized by state and federal law.

The sUAS Program shall not be used to unlawfully harass or intimidate persons.
The sUAS Program shall not be used to conduct personal business of any type.
The sUAS Program shall not be used for any flight operations prohibited by 14 CFR Part 107 regulations unless FAA waivers or authorizations have been acquired.

Can Skagit County Public Works fly drones over private property?

Skagit County can legally fly a drone over private property and houses in Washington State, provided that the owner's privacy is not being invaded, property is not being damaged, and people's lives are not being put at risk. Washington State Drone laws can be found HERE. FAA CFR 14 Part 107 laws can be found HERE.

Can Skagit County Public Works fly near airport?

Yes. The FAA requires drone pilots to request an airspace authorization through Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) to operate in controlled airspace. Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.

How would a person report a drone operation potentially violating FAA rules or regulations?

If your report involves a drone not following FAA rules or regulations while flying within the National Airspace System, contact the FAA HERE or your local Flight Standards District Office.

Resource Links:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

https://www.faa.gov/uas

https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/#/

https://www.faa.gov/uas/contact_us/report_uas_sighting

https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange

Code of Federal Regulation (CFR 14 Part 107)

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107

United States Drone Laws

https://drone-laws.com/usa-drone-laws-in-usa/

Washington State Drone Laws

https://drone-laws.com/drone-laws-in-washington-state/

https://www.thedroneu.com/blog/washington-state-drone-laws/

https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/aviation/pilots-aircraft/uncrewed-aircraft-systems-and-commercial-drone-registration

Questions or Concerns?
Jason McCauley, Public Works Engineering
(360) 416-1433
jmccauley@co.skagit.wa.us

Contact Public Works Engineering

Assistant County Engineer | Engineering Division Manager
Thomas Weller, P.E.

1800 Continental Place
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone: (360) 416-1400
Fax: (360) 416-1405

email: pw@co.skagit.wa.us