Chapter 22 Core Competencies

There are four major categories of personnel associated with UAS, each with their own competency and knowledge requirements.

These competencies are the measurable or observable knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors that are essential for successful performance. This formalization of core competencies establishes the desired minimums for each user group and can be used as a roadmap for readers to assist in identifying their proficiency needs.

22.1 Terms and Definitions

22.1.1 User Groups

  • General User - a RPIC who operates in exclusively low risk scenarios. A beginner, occasional operator or operates for only specific uses.
  • Power User - a RPIC who operates regularly in moderate to higher risk scenarios. A operator with significant UAS experience and may be tasked to a wide range of UAS activity.
  • UAS Flight Instructor - a RPIC who additionally provides occasional or regular flight instruction to others.
  • UAS Flight Reviewer - a UC staff member responsible for reviewing and approving UAS activity. This may include Designated Local Authorities, the Systemwide Designated UAS Authority or other staff member assigned review authority. In some cases, the responsibilities of a UAS Flight Reviewer may be distributed across subject matter experts.

22.1.2 Domains of Competency

The core competencies have been organized into four domains:

  • UAS Regulations
  • Campus Procedures
  • Risk Management
  • UAS Flight Experience

22.1.3 Knowledge Scale

To clarify some of the language related to the aspect of knowing specific subject matter, the following scale is used.

  • Is knowledgeable - The subject matter is well understood by the user.
  • Is familiar - The subject matter is familiar to the user to some level of detail.
  • Is aware - The existence of the subject matter is known to the user and further details can be ascertained as necessary.

22.1.4 Proficiency Ratings

Within each rubric, users can rate their mastery of each identified competency. The rating scale is as follows:

  1. No proficiency
  2. Limited proficiency
  3. Somewhat proficient
  4. Fully proficient

22.2 General User

Table 22.1: General User Core Competencies
Rating Code Domain Description
_____ 1A1 UAS Regulations Is aware of the applicable federal regulations.
_____ 1A2 UAS Regulations Is aware of the registration requirement of an unmanned aircraft.
_____ 1A3 UAS Regulations Is aware of State or Local regulations.
_____ 1B1 Campus Procedures Is aware of the campus local policy or procedures.
_____ 1B2 Campus Procedures Is aware of UAS activity reporting requirements.
_____ 1C1 Risk Management Can identify major risks associated with specific UAS activity
_____ 1C2 Risk Management Can develop a basic mission plan for specific UAS activity
_____ 1C3 Risk Management Is aware of common potential safety risks.
_____ 1C4 Risk Management Can implement a field safety plan as applicable.
_____ 1D1 Operational Experience Is aware of the operation and use of specific unmanned aircraft.
_____ 1D2 Operational Experience Can implement UAS specific pre-flight inspections.

22.3 Power User

Table 22.2: Power User Core Competencies
Rating Code Domain Description
_____ 2A1 UAS Regulations Is familiar with the applicable federal regulations.
_____ 2A2 UAS Regulations Is familiar with the registration requirement of an unmanned aircraft.
_____ 2A3 UAS Regulations Is familiar of State or Local regulations.
_____ 2B1 Campus Procedures Is familiar with the campus local policy or procedures.
_____ 2B2 Campus Procedures Is familiar with UAS activity reporting requirements.
_____ 2B3 Campus Procedures Can coordinate and communicate across various campus stakeholders regarding the use of UAS.
_____ 2C1 Risk Management Can identify major risks associated with specific UAS activity
_____ 2C2 Risk Management Can develop an advanced mission plan for specific UAS activity
_____ 2C3 Risk Management Is familiar with common potential safety risks.
_____ 2C4 Risk Management Can prepare a field safety plan as applicable.
_____ 2C5 Risk Management Can identify potential risks to privacy, civil rights or liberties
_____ 2C6 Risk Management Can implement a risk management process.
_____ 2D1 Operational Experience Is familiar with the operation and use of specific unmanned aircraft.
_____ 2D2 Operational Experience Can implement UAS specific pre-flight inspections.
_____ 2D3 Operational Experience Can develop emergency action plans for off-nominal situations.

22.4 UAS Flight Instructor

Table 22.3: Flight Instructor Core Competencies
Rating Code Domain Description
_____ 3A1 UAS Regulations Is knowledgeable with the applicable federal regulations.
_____ 3A2 UAS Regulations Is knowledgeable with the registration requirement of an unmanned aircraft.
_____ 3A3 UAS Regulations Is knowledgeable of State or Local regulations.
_____ 3A4 UAS Regulations Can articulate UAS regulations effectively
_____ 3B1 Campus Procedures Is knowledgeable with the campus local policy or procedures.
_____ 3B2 Campus Procedures Is knowledgeable with UAS activity reporting requirements.
_____ 3B3 Campus Procedures Can coordinate and communicate across various campus stakeholders regarding the use of UAS.
_____ 3B4 Campus Procedures Can identify the communication chain of command for UAS activity at a University Location
_____ 3C1 Risk Management Can identify major risks associated with specific UAS activity
_____ 3C2 Risk Management Can develop an advanced mission plan for specific UAS activity
_____ 3C3 Risk Management Is knowledgeable with common potential safety risks.
_____ 3C4 Risk Management Can prepare a field safety plan as applicable.
_____ 3C5 Risk Management Can identify potential risks to privacy, civil rights or liberties
_____ 3C6 Risk Management Can implement a risk management process.
_____ 3C7 Risk Management Consistently demonstrates effective risk management for UAS activity
_____ 3D1 Operational Experience Is knowledgeable with the operation and use of a range unmanned aircraft.
_____ 3D2 Operational Experience Can implement a range of UAS pre-flight inspections.
_____ 3D3 Operational Experience Can develop emergency action plans for off-nominal situations.
_____ 3D4 Operational Experience Maintains a high level of UAS proficiency.
_____ 3D5 Operational Experience Is effective and convincing in promotion UAS safety.

22.5 UAS Activity Reviewer

Table 22.4: UAS Flight Reviewer Core Competencies
Rating Code Domain Description
_____ 4A1 UAS Regulations Is knowledgeable with the applicable federal regulations.
_____ 4A2 UAS Regulations Is knowledgeable with the registration requirement of an unmanned aircraft.
_____ 4A3 UAS Regulations Is knowledgeable of State or Local regulations.
_____ 4A4 UAS Regulations Can articulate UAS regulations effectively
_____ 4B1 Campus Procedures Is knowledgeable with the campus local policy or procedures.
_____ 4B2 Campus Procedures Is knowledgeable with UAS activity reporting requirements.
_____ 4B3 Campus Procedures Can coordinate and communicate across various campus stakeholders regarding the use of UAS.
_____ 4B4 Campus Procedures Can identify the communication chain of command for UAS activity at a University Location
_____ 4C1 Risk Management Can identify major risks associated with specific UAS activity
_____ 4C2 Risk Management Is knowledgeable with common potential safety risks.
_____ 4C3 Risk Management Can identify potential risks to privacy, civil rights or liberties
_____ 4C4 Risk Management Can implement a risk management process.
_____ 4C5 Risk Management Consistently demonstrates effective risk management for UAS activity
_____ 4D1 Operational Experience Is familiar with the general performance of common UAS models.
_____ 4D2 Operational Experience Is familiar with the general operation and logistical requirements of UAS activity.