Texas EquuSearch Given Permission To Fly UAV In Search For Missing Woman Near Dallas

The FAA approved an Emergency Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) Wednesday afternoon for the use of an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in the search for a missing woman near Dallas, Texas. The agency approves Emergency COAs for natural disaster relief, search and rescue operations and other urgent circumstances. In this case, the FAA granted the Emergency COA in less than 24 hours.

Under the Emergency COA, Texas EquuSearch will be able to operate its aircraft from Sept. 11, 2014 until sunset Sept. 15. The COA was issued to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of Gaithersburg, Md., at the request of the Plano Police Department. NIST has a previously existing relationship with Texas EquuSearch, a non-profit organization that assists with locating missing individuals.

The FAA issues COAs on an emergency basis when: 1) a situation exists in which there is distress or urgency and there is an extreme possibility of a loss of life; 2) the proponent has determined that manned flight operations cannot be conducted efficiently; and 3) the proposed UAS is operating under a current approved COA for a different purpose or location. The FAA also uses the COA process to authorize operations for civil (non-governmental) aircraft that have an airworthiness certificate.

(File image provided by Texas EquuSearch)

FMI: www.faa.gov