Supporting Risk Management & Situational Awareness

Fieldwork Foundations

Conducting site surveys and planning for emergencies both fall under the broader umbrella of Crew Resource Management (CRM), but more specifically, they support Risk Management and Situational Awareness.

• Risk Management:
• Site surveys help you identify and mitigate potential hazards before the flight starts.
• Emergency planning facilitates you’ve already thought through how to handle threats if they occur, reducing the impact of unexpected events.
• Situational Awareness:
• Both tasks require you to be fully aware of the environment—terrain, obstacles, weather, and other real-time factors that affect your ability to fly safely.

So, in the context of CRM, site surveys and emergency planning are the preventative tools that give you the clarity and control to make good decisions when it matters.

Supporting Risk Management & Situational Awareness

Fieldwork Foundations

Before your drone ever leaves the ground, a solid site survey sets the stage for a safe flight. Scout the terrain—you’re looking for anything that could cause problems once you’re airborne.

This proactive step allows you to plan safe flight paths and designate emergency landing zones, so you’re prepared for any challenges that may arise during your operation.

When you’ve already planned for the “what ifs,” you can act fast and smart when it counts.

Scan for hazards like power lines, trees, tall buildings, and anything unexpected in the area. Check the weather, wind direction, and lighting conditions. The goal is to know the lay of the land so there are no surprises once you’re in the sky.

Site Survey Checklist: What to Do Before Every Flight

Fieldwork Foundations

Before every mission, run through this list to lock in safety, awareness, and compliance.

• Scout the Site: Walk the area where you’ll be launching and landing. Look for uneven ground, tall grass, puddles, or anything that could interfere with takeoff/landing.
• Scan for Hazards: Look up, down, and around. Identify trees, power lines, poles, buildings, antennas, and moving vehicles. Don’t forget overhead wires!
• Check for People: Identify areas where people might walk, drive, or gather. Set up a buffer zone to avoid flying over non-participants.
• Verify Airspace: Use apps like B4UFLY or sectional charts to confirm your airspace class, flight restrictions, and if LAANC authorization is needed.
• Review Weather Conditions: Note wind speed, temperature, visibility, and cloud ceilings. Cancel or reschedule if it’s outside safe limits.
• Map Emergency Procedures: Identify a plan in case of flyaway, low battery, or signal loss. Know where to land if things go wrong.
• Establish Communication Plan: If you’re flying with a crew, confirm who’s doing what. Make sure your VO (visual observer) knows what to watch for and how to alert you.
• Mark Boundaries: Set clear visual boundaries for your mission area. Use cones, flags, or natural landmarks to help you stay within limits.
• Confirm Public Notifications: If needed, notify nearby property owners, park staff, or event organizers. Avoid surprises.
• Secure Permissions: If you’re flying over private property or in a special use airspace, have all required permissions in place.

Obstruction of Drone’s Flight Path

Fieldwork Foundations

If you spot an unexpected obstacle like a tower, guy wire, building, tree, or plume in your flight path stop and hover immediately. Then ascend or adjust course safely, and reassess your route before continuing the mission.

Towers

Tall structures such as radio, cell, or television towers pose a collision risk, especially during low-altitude flight operations. Their locations and heights are marked on sectional charts, which are essential tools provided by the FAA for identifying airspace features, obstacles, and potential hazards before a flight.

Smoke Plumes

While not typically marked on sectional charts, smoke plumes from fires or industrial activities can obstruct a drone’s sensors, limit visibility, and cause air turbulence, all of which could lead to loss of control or damage to the UA. Always be aware of local reports or visible plumes during operations.

Guy Wires

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Staying Clear of Moving Hazards

Fieldwork Foundations

When flying, you’re sharing the air with manned aircraft—and they always have the right of way. You also need to watch out for the turbulence they can create, especially during takeoff and landing.

Let’s take a closer look:

Yield to Right of Way of Manned Aircraft

Manned aircraft always have the right of way. Always be vigilant and anticipate the movement of other aircraft or objects. Maintain a safe distance and adjust your flight path to avoid potential collisions.

As a Remote PIC, it’s your responsibility to remain clear of and to yield right-of-way to all manned aircraft.

Avoid Collision with other Unmanned Aircraft

Since Part 107 does not establish right-of-way rules between two unmanned aircraft, both Remote PICs are equally responsible for maintaining safe separation and avoiding any risk of collision. The burden is shared.

Avoid Wing Tip Vortices

When large aircraft take off or land, they leave behind swirling air trails called wingtip vortices. These invisible spirals of air sink behind and below the aircraft—creating turbulence strong enough to disrupt nearby flight.

This effect is strongest during takeoff, when the plane is:

• Heaviest (fully loaded),
• Slowest (not yet up to full speed),
• Using full engine power (max thrust).

If your drone flies too close to a departing aircraft, especially from behind, it could get caught in those turbulent patterns and become unstable or even lose control.

Always maintain a safe distance from manned aircraft during takeoff and landing to avoid getting swept up in their wake.