The Drone Safety Team (DST) is an industry-government partnership committed to ensuring the safe operations of drone aircraft systems (UAS) in the national airspace system. The DST supports the safe integration of UAS with data-driven safety enhancements and collaboration amongst members of the UAS industry.
DST is adopting the same collaborative model as the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC) & Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST)
Getting Started
Welcome to the rapidly growing world of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations, also known as drones! We congratulate you for becoming [...]
Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations
You are considered a recreational user if you fly your drone for fun. It is important to know when and where you can fly and [...]
Embry-Riddle Study Shows Need for Increased Drone Safety
Embry-Riddle Study Shows Need for Increased Drone Safety A study reveals that a growing number of amateur drone users are creating new dangers with [...]
The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)
All recreational flyers must pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test and provide proof of test passage (the TRUST completion certificate) to the FAA [...]
Become a Part 107 Drone Pilot
In order to fly your drone under the FAA's Small UAS Rule (Part 107), you must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from [...]
Public Pilot – Safety and Law Enforcement Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to assist law enforcement and public safety entities in operating and handling situations involving drones or UAS. Download [...]
B4UFLY Mobile App
Download B4UFLY Mobile App Recreational users who only fly their drone for fun, now have an improved app – B4UFLY – to help show where [...]
A safety management system is composed of four functional components:
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- Safety Policy
- Safety Risk Management
- Safety Assurance
- Safety Promotion
Recommendations for using Safety Management Systems (SMS) in UAS Operations
Purpose
This guidance and the recommended SMS frameworks that can be voluntarily used to develop formal safety-related systems, procedures and best practices for commercial Unmanned Aircraft Operations particularly when operating under CFR 14 Part 91, 107, or Part 135. This information fills the gap between the minimal operating regulations and the need for a uniform level of proficiency, training, and risk management based on the level of risk of the operation.
This guidance is a structured practical approach to establishing customized, proactive safety management systems which will help operators identify and mitigate risks for 3 different levels of operational complexity: Low, Medium and High. The following SMS guidance may be followed in a modular fashion, or, in its entirely. Broad use and acceptance have the potential to help build public trust and acceptance in the technology and in the organizations striving to improve safety.
The recommendations that follow are derived from regulatory and advisory documents, accredited industry standards, and recognized international standards for unmanned aircraft operations. The FAA regulatory source documents are included in the Addendum section of this document, and other standards references include ISO, ASTM, ANSI, NIMS, NFPA, OSHA, RTCA, ICAO, IEEE and more. Therefore, following this guidance will help commercial operators of all sizes, with varying scopes of operations, to use broader methods in executing best-in-class safety practices.
SMS Frameworks
The UAST has identified 3 different levels of operational complexity and risk: Low, Medium and High.
Low Complexity Operations will benefit from a Basic SMS which is designed to help inform the operator how to prepare and act safely.
Medium Complexity Operations will benefit from building on a Basic SMS to establish an Intermediate SMS which is designed to help standardize safety throughout the operator’s organization.
High Complexity Operations can benefit from being guided by an Advanced SMS that is built upon the foundation of an organization’s Intermediate SMS and is designed to help a UAS operator to continuously improve safety within their organization.