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Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
University and auxiliary employees are required to obtain approval from the University prior to the acquisition or operation of UAS or UAS components to be used in any work relating to the University or any sponsored program associated with the University.
Acquisition
All UAS acquisitions must receive approval prior to purchase using the Drone Acquisition and Operation Approval Form below.
Prohibited:
- Foreign-manufactured UAS and UAS critical components are presumed prohibited unless the specific model appears on the federal
- Reimbursement may be denied for unapproved purchases or for UAS that do not meet federal or University requirements.
Operation
Prior authorization from California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) and Risk Management Services (RMS) is required before operating a drone in the following circumstances:
- Any UAS launched from University-owned or managed property, regardless of drone ownership.
- Any UAS operation on or off campus using a CSUS-acquired drone.
- For purposes of this policy, drones acquired or purchased by CSUS auxiliaries (including UEI and other recognized auxiliaries) are considered CSUS-acquired drones.
Research
Approval is granted on a project-specific basis. A separate application must be submitted and approved for each research project involving UAS operations, including the use of existing UAS.
Existing UAS
The University may permit continued use of an existing DJI or other covered UAS only if all of the following conditions are met:
- The UAS was not purchased with federal funds, and
- The UAS is not used in support of federally funded research, programs, or activities, and
- The operation does not rely on federal resources, support (including personnel), or cost-sharing.
Approval for continued use of an existing covered drone is subject to review and may be restricted or denied based on applicable federal or University requirements.
Data Security for DJI Drones
All data collected using DJI drones or DJI-manufactured components, including photographs, video, telemetry, and other flight data, must be stored and managed in accordance with University information security, data governance, and records management requirements.
Automatic cloud synchronization and data uploads must be disabled unless specifically approved by the University. Users may be required to operate drones in offline mode or utilize University-approved secure data storage and transmission methods.Operators of existing DJI drones must consult with Information
Resources and Technology (IRT) to ensure their drone configuration, data handling practices, and operational procedures comply with these requirements.
Contact Us
The federal UAS framework is changing rapidly. Please reach out early in the purchase planning process to ensure compliance with federal and campus policy.
Reporting
Operators must promptly report:
- Crashes, injuries, property damage, or near misses;
- Lost or unrecoverable aircraft;
- Complaints related to drone operations; and
- Unauthorized or non-compliant flights.