Examining Unmanned Aerial System Threats & Defenses: A Conceptual Analysis

The integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the already complex global aviation system presents new and unique hazards. While many studies have addressed the potential safety concerns of UAS integration, little research has been dedicated to the potential security implications. This study sought to identify potential uses and adaptations of civil UAS systems as weapons of terrorism or crime and potential UAS defenses. Researchers examined 68 academic studies, unclassified government reports, and news articles using Conceptual Analysis to systematically capture and categorize various threats. Using the collected data, researchers developed a UAS threat model for categorically evaluating potential threats. Evaluating UAS defense methodologies, researchers developed a five-layer, defense-in-depth model for protecting assets and individuals from UAS threats

How Law Enforcement Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Could Improve Tactical Response to Active Shooter Situations: The Case of the 2017 Las Vegas Shooting

Using a case study methodology, this paper assesses the unique tactical challenges faced by law enforcement officers responding to the October 1, 2017, Las Vegas active shooter incident. The authors assessed the tactical strengths of the assailant, Stephen Paddock, and challenges faced by law enforcement personnel. The authors present several proposed applications of unmanned aircraft systems that could have potentially mitigated the active shooter’s tactical advantages

Evolution of UAS policy in the wake of Taylor v. Huerta

The U.S. Court of Appeals recently ruled that the Federal Aviation Administration exceeded their statutory authority in requiring model aircraft and hobbyist UAS operators to register their aircraft in a national database. The ruling represents a significant blow to the agency’s credibility in leading UAS integration into the National Airspace System. The paper points to several possible outcomes of the Taylor v. Huerta decision and its impact on the FAA’s ability to continue to lead change in the burgeoning UAS field

Backwards Chaining – Accelerating Solo Flight Training

Flight simulation has made progressively significant inroads into pilot training at all levels of a pilot’s career – typically starting with training for the Instrument rating in light aircraft and concluding with Type Certification in transport category jetliners. This research was designed to explore if significant training inroads could also be offered to ab-initio pilots, those with no prior flight experience. A control group of first-year, collegiate pilot trainees, all without prior flight experience, enrolled in a traditional FAR 141 PVT (Private Pilot license) curricula on track to their first solo flight, were compared with an experimental group of up to15 pilot trainees, also without prior flight experience, who were exposed to flight in a backwards chaining simulation starting from 4’ AGL (Above Ground Level). Graduated, exponential increments of both altitude and distance from landing were successively added to the simulation experienced by the backward chain experimental group of pilots all the way through a standard FAA General Aviation traffic pattern to return the student pilot to the start of take-off. Once the students had completed the backward chaining simulation, they were placed in an identical aircraft (Cessna-172R/G1000) for an actual flight with an appropriately rated Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). All experimental group pilots were able to successfully act as sole manipulator of the aircraft controls (Pilot-in-Command) for three complete circuits of the traffic pattern on their first flight lesson

Exploring Commercial Counter-UAS Operations: A Case Study of the 2017 Dominican Republic Festival Presidente

The proliferation of commercial off-the-shelf unmanned aircraft technology has resulted in a growing number of illicit or hazardous UAS activities, highlighting the growing need for effective counter-UAS mitigations. The purpose of this exploratory research is to develop a better understanding of the existing tactics, techniques, procedures involved in counter-UAS operations. Using a critical paradigm approach, the authors conducted a qualitative, unstructured interview with counter-UAS professionals. The authors sought to identify mission planning considerations, counter-UAS engagement tasks, and unanticipated conditions associated with performing a commercial [non-military] counter-UAS mission. The authors codified 11 key mission planning tasks and a 22-step engagement process by which one organization effected counter-UAS operations at a contracted, international event. The authors conclude that the study’s findings underscore existing vulnerabilities to UAS threats and the accompanying need for additional research in this field of UAS security

Seeing the Threat: Pilot Visual Detection of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Visual Meteorological Conditions

One key challenge of integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) platforms into the National Airspace System (NAS) is the potential for midair collisions between manned aircraft and the unmanned system. The lack of an established UAS benchmark for Detect, Sense & Avoid Systems put the preponderance of avoidance efforts on manned aircraft pilots to visually see and avoid potential collision threats. The small size, unusual configurations, and diverse operational applications of unmanned systems make UAS platforms difficult to visually identify. This paper sought to determine the mean visibility distance of small UAS systems (sUAS) to an alerted pilot flying a general aviation aircraft in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). The study evaluated mean visibility distance to various sUAS platforms based on a scripted set of UAS convergence conditions. The study utilized a mixed method design in which a general aviation aircraft was flown into a UAS operations area. Study pilots were instructed to locate a flying UAS aircraft without bearing assistance. Both the UAS and manned aircraft were assigned vertically de-conflicted altitudes with the UAS aircraft executing a series of converging and crossing courses relative to the manned aircraft. The distance at which the pilot visually located the UAS platform was timestamped and electronically recorded via a GPS tracking device. The various conditions were analyzed to determine significant visibility differences among the various convergence conditions. Qualitative data was collected from participant comments and observations recorded by an in-flight safety observer

Evaluating Small UAS Operations and National Airspace System Interference Using AeroScope

A recent rash of near mid-air collisions coupled with the widespread proliferation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) raise concerns that integration is posing additional risk to the National Airspace System. In 2016, sUAS sighting reports by manned aircraft pilots averaged 147 per month. In the first three quarters of 2017, sUAS sightings jumped to 188 per month. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sUAS operator behavior to determine potential interference with aviation operations. While previous research has indeed yielded findings about operator behavior, such studies were generally based on data derived from Aviation Safety Reporting System filings or the UAS sighting report database maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration. In this study, the authors partnered with a UAS technology company to deploy an AeroScope, a passive radiofrequency detection device, to detect UAS flight activity in an urban area. While the device was limited to collecting flight information from only DJImanufactured platforms, it is estimated that the company holds a market share in excess of 70% providing a reasonable barometer for sUAS activity in the sample area. Over the 19-day sample period, the AeroScope device recorded 258 detections of 77 unique sUAS platforms. The authors assessed sUAS operator behavioral characteristics, including: UAS models, operating altitudes, preferred flying days and times, flight durations, and operating locations. The authors assessed 93 potential violations of 14 CFR 107 regulations, including controlled airspace breaches, exceeding maximum flight altitudes, and flight outside of daylight or civil twilight hours. The authors concluded that UAS activity in the sample area posed potential conflicts with a runway visual approach, created a collision hazard with three heliports, and heightened risk for visual flight rules operations underneath a controlled airspace shelf. The authors determined existing sUAS geofencing systems were ineffective at deterring sUAS activity unless they imposed flight restrictions in addition to hazard notification

Pilot Visual Detection of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Equipped with Strobe Lighting

When operating under Visual Flight Rules, pilots primarily rely on visual scanning to avoid other aircraft and airborne collision threats. Records from the Federal Aviation Administration indicate that near encounters with unmanned aircraft are on the rise, reaching 1,761 reported unmanned aircraft system (UAS) sightings or near-misses in 2016. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of pilot visual detection of UAS platforms that were equipped with strobe lighting. A sample of 10 pilots flew a general aviation aircraft on a scripted series of five intercepts with a small UAS (sUAS) that was equipped with strobe lighting. Participants were asked to indicate when they visually detected the unmanned aircraft. Geolocation information for both the aircraft and sUAS platform was compared to assess visibility distance. Findings were used to evaluate the efficacy of daytime strobe lighting as a method to enhance pilot sUAS detection, visibility, and collision avoidance. Participants detected the unmanned aircraft during 7.7% of the intercepts. Due to a lack of data points, the authors were unable to conclusively determine if strobe lighting improved UAS visual detection. The authors recommend further research to explore the effectiveness of using sUAS-mounted strobe lights for nighttime visual detection

Evaluating LAANC Utilization & Compliance for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Controlled Airspace

On July 23, 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expanded the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC)—the system that processes airspace approvals for sUAS operators in controlled airspace—to include recreational operations. Researchers sought to collect and evaluate 30 days of UAS operational activity in controlled airspace using UAS detection equipment. Detected UAS flight data was compared against UAS Facility Maps and LAANC approval data to assess UAS operator compliance and behavior patterns. Researchers documented 94 LAANC approvals and detected 271 UAS flights within the sample area during the sampling period. The research team noted that UAS detections exceeded LAANC authorizations by a rate of approximately four-to-one. Only 7.0% of detected UAS operations could be correlated to a LAANC authorization, possibly indicating significant rates of non-compliance. Additionally, researchers determined that 34.3% (n =93) of detected UAS operations exceeded maximum altitudes prescribed for their respective location. Forty-four percent (n =41) of UASFM altitude exceedances occurred above 500 feet AGL, posing potential risk to manned aviation operations in the National Airspace System. Researchers advocate for the implementation of additional measures to curtail non-compliance, including additional UAS operator training, deterrence, and enforcement measures. The research team intends to expand this study to additional airports via related research projects within the FAA’s ASSURE Program