Drone Procedures and Protocol - Coastal Carolina University
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Drone Procedures and Protocol

Before an employee of Coastal Carolina University may operate a drone, a drone user must complete a Drone Operator Request Form. The following departments will need to review and sign off on the request to use a drone.

Department of Public Safety

Steve Valenti
Public Safety Building
Svalenti@coastal.edu
843-349-2986

Scheduling and Event Services

Marc McIntyre
Wheelwright 104
Mmcintyr@coastal.edu
843-349-2743

University Marketing and Communication

Ashley Holloway
Hampton Hall 101
aholloway@coastal.edu
843-349-2962

Risk Management and Insurance Services

Christine Guthoff, MSM, AIC, AINS
Coastal Science Center, 269
cguthoff@coastal.edu
843-349-6559

Drone users must comply with all FAA regulations, other state and federal laws, rules and regulations, and policies of Coastal Carolina University. For a link to CCU’s drone policy, please click here.

External users must provide a certificate of insurance, naming Coastal Carolina University as an additional insured.

CCU reserves the right to refuse drones on any basis, including but not limited to; lack of registration with the FAA, lack of clear display of the aircraft’s registration number on the system, lack of sufficient insurance coverage, inclement weather, and pedestrian traffic/increase in population on campus, as well as refusal of the time, place, and/or manner of the submitted flight plan.

OSHA UAV Regulations 

  1. All university employees desiring to utilize Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) on campus must be registered. The Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) shall pass an FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test and obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate with UAS rating. 
  2. All university UAVs must be registered with the FAA and the Office of Risk Management. (Click to Register
  3. Apply and obtain approval for FAA part 107, subpart D, waiver when unable to operate under part 107 rules. 
  4. Establish and maintain logbooks for RPICs and all UAS. 
  5. Report all accidents to the FAA. 
  6. The RPIC must keep a visual line-of-sight with the UAV. 
  7. The RPIC must operate the UAV only between sunrise and sunset. 
  8. Flight speed must not exceed 100 MPH. 
  9. The RPIC must not operate the UAS higher than 400 feet above ground except when within 400 feet of a structure. In these cases, it is allowable to fly 400 feet above the structure’s immediate uppermost limit. 
  10. The UAV must yield right of way to manned aircraft. 
  11. The UAS may not operate over any persons not directly participating in the operation unless they are under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can provide reasonable protection from a falling drone. 
  12. OSHA’s Recommended Best Practices can be found here

Additional Quick Links for UAV Users: