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Purchase and operation of small uncrewed/unmanned aerial systems (sUAS)

PPD-0113

PPD Number: 0113 
Title: Purchase and operation of small uncrewed/unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) 
Responsible Office: Research & Advisory Service 
Effective Date: June 29, 2026 
Last Updated: First Version 

I. Scope

This policy and procedure document (PPD) applies to William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) & Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences (Batten School). It applies to all VIMS & Batten School personnel (as defined in this PPD) and all VIMS & Batten School campuses, including the Eastern Shore Laboratory (ESL) and the Kauffman Aquaculture Center (KAC). 

II. Purpose & Policy Statement

VIMS & the Batten School adhere to all applicable state and federal laws regarding the purchase and operation of small uncrewed/unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). This PPD outlines the requirements for the purchase and operation of sUAS by VIMS & Batten School personnel. Information within this document does not supersede any state or federal laws, now or in the future. While the information contained in this document is current as of the date of its most recent update, it is the responsibility of the principal investigator (PI) and remote pilot in command (remote PIC) to ensure all current laws and regulations are followed for all sUAS operations. 

The FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Section 848, FY 2023 NDAA Section 817, and FY 2024 NDAA American Security Drone Act prohibits federal funds from being used to procure or operate any sUAS with critical components manufactured in a covered foreign country or by a covered sUAS company (including Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof). The searchable, current list of covered foreign entities can be found on SAM.gov. 

sUAS covered under these acts cannot be flown over federal lands nor operated by persons paid with federal funds, regardless of location. 

To facilitate the purchase of NDAA-compliant systems for the federal government, the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) maintains the “Blue List” of cleared sUAS aircraft and components and software. To be included on the Blue List, a company must have a Department of War (DoW) sponsor. In an effort to provide additional opportunities for vetting systems not sponsored by the DoW, the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) maintains the “Green UAS” list. Systems included on either the Blue or Green list satisfy all regulations for those sUAS not operated by the DoW. sUAS and components not on either list may be compliant, but as it falls to the user to verify such compliance, it is highly recommended that any sUAS that need to be NDAA-compliant be selected from the Blue or Green list.  
 
III. Definitions 

Federal Funds: Money provided by the United States federal government as grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or direct payments. Funding that is provided by a state agency or other entity but originated from a federal agency (i.e. pass-through funding) is still considered federal funding 

Federal Lands: Lands in the United States owned and managed by the federal government (e.g. National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks, military installations) 

NDAA-compliant: sUAS that follow all restrictions included within the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) of any year and are allowed to operate using federal funds and over federal lands 

Non-compliant: sUAS that do not follow all restrictions included within the NDAAs of any year 

Critical components of a sUAS include anything that stores or transmits data, including but not limited to: the flight controller; radio; data transmission devices (e.g. remote ID); camera; electronic payloads (e.g. lidar and multispectral sensors); gimbal; ground control system; operating software; network connectivity; and data storage (e.g. memory cards). 

Principal Investigator (PI): The primary individual responsible for the design, execution, and management of a research project or study. They hold ultimate responsibility for scientific integrity, regulatory compliance, fiscal responsibility, and safety protocols. 

VIMS & Batten School Personnel: Any paid employee of VIMS or graduate student enrolled in the Batten School 

Remote Pilot in Command (Remote PIC): A designated crewmember who holds a valid Part 107 certificate, is responsible for the safe operation of a sUAS, and has final authority over that operation. The remote PIC must be VIMS & Batten School personnel as defined in this PPD.  

Visual Observer (VO): A person who is designated by the Remote PIC to assist with the identification and avoidance of air traffic or objects, aloft or on the ground, that may interfere with safe operation of the sUAS 

Small Uncrewed/Unmanned Aircraft (sUA): An aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft, and operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft 

Small Uncrewed/Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS): A sUA and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the sUA) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the sUA in the National Airspace System 

Valid Part 107 Certificate: A remote PIC has a valid Part 107 certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when the initial knowledge exam was passed within the last 24 calendar months or the Part 107 sUAS recurrent course was passed within the last 24 calendar months (i.e. the 24-month recency of aeronautical knowledge requirement is met). 

Part 107 Waiver: An official document issued by the FAA which approves certain operations of sUAS outside the limitations of a regulation. You may request to fly specific sUAS operations not allowed under part 107 by requesting an operational waiver. These waivers allow sUAS pilots to deviate from certain rules under part 107 by demonstrating they can still fly safely using alternative methods. 

Serious Injury: An injury that qualifies as Level 3 or higher on the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). An AIS Level 3 injury is one that is reversible, but usually involves overnight hospitalization. For more information see 14 CFR part 107 preamble and AC 107-2, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (small UAS) (as amended). 

IV. Purchase ofsUAS 

Should purchase of a non-compliant sUAS be necessary, it is the responsibility of the project’s PI to ensure that no federal funds will be used for the purchase or operation of the sUAS (including salaries for those operating the sUAS) and that the sUAS will not be operated over federal lands. Prior to initiating the procurement process for any non-compliant sUAS, the PI must submit, via flyUAS@vims.edu, a justification for the purchase to the Office of Research & Advisory Service (ORAS) for approval by the Associate Dean of Research & Advisory Service (ADRAS) (or their designee). This justification must include: 1) the reasons why a non-compliant sUAS is necessary; 2) a description of the funds that will be used to purchase and operate the sUAS; and 3) a description of the work the sUAS will be used for. If the locations the sUAS will be operated in are known, that should also be described in the justification document. Approval by the ADRAS (or their designee) must be included with the request for purchase submitted to the procurement department.  

Purchase of NDAA-compliant sUAS do not need approval by the ADRAS (or their designee) before purchase.  

V. Operation of VIMS & Batten School-owned sUAS 

All sUAS owned by VIMS & the Batten School must be registered with ORAS. Registration must include a copy of the aircraft’s FAA registration (which must be updated every 3 years) and a copy of each remote PIC’s valid Part 107 certificate. All registration and certificates (including recency updates) shall be logged within the sUAS flight and asset management platform. Contact ORAS via flyUAS@vims.edu to obtain login information. 

All flights and planned activities conducted with a Batten School & VIMS-owned sUAS must comply with the following: 

  • Shall be conducted only for VIMS & Batten School official business. 
  • The remote PIC must be VIMS & Batten School personnel (as defined in this PPD) and have a valid Part 107 certificate. William & Mary undergraduate students may be the person operating the controls only if the remote PIC meets the criteria listed above. 
  • Shall follow 14 CFR Part 107 regulations or fall under an appropriate waiver granted by the FAA. 
  • Shall abide by federal, state, and local laws, guidance, and policies. It is the responsibility of the PI and the remote PIC to ensure applicable laws, guidance, and policies are followed.  
  • Each flight, regardless of location, shall be logged in the institution’s flight and asset management platform with, at minimum, the following information:  
    • Drone ID/name 
    • Remote Pilot in Command (remote PIC) name 
    • Visual Observer (VO) name(s) 
    • Funding sources used to operate the flight, including sources of salary funding for remote PIC and VO(s) 
    • Date and time of flight 
    • Flight duration  
    • Location (coordinates) 
    • Payload (if any) 
    • Any airspace authorizations or waivers associated with the flight 
    • Brief flight purpose (e.g. training, advisory site visit, HAB overflight, etc.) 
  • The PI or remote PIC Shall report all incidents to the FAA as required by 14 CFR section 107.9. Incidents reported to the FAA must also be reported to ORAS via flyUAS@vims.edu. Additionally, any incident that does not meet the criteria for report to the FAA, but results in damage greater than $5,000 to a VIMS & Batten School owned sUAS shall be reported to the ORAS via flyUAS@vims.edu.  

Flights on William & Mary Property 

Any flights on William & Mary property, including the VIMS Gloucester Point, Eastern Shore, and Kauffman Aquaculture Center campuses, must receive prior approval from the designated approver for the specific property/campus. Designated approvers can be found in the University’s UAS/UAV/Drone procedures.  

Flights by third-parties or outside vendors (including researchers from other institutions) must follow the University’s UAS/UAV/Drone procedures with the addition that all flight requests from third-parties or outside vendors for the VIMS Gloucester Point, Eastern Shore, or Kauffman Aquaculture Center campuses must also be sent to flyUAS@vims.edu. 

Documentation of approval must be included with the flight log.  

Flights not on William & Mary Property 

Flights not on William & Mary property do not require advance approval by William & Mary or VIMS. It is the PI and/or remote PIC’s responsibility to ensure proper permission is obtained from the landowner prior to any flights occurring from a property. This may include additional permits or coordination (particularly on state or federal land). Any formal documentation of permission (e.g. a Special Use Permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service) should be included with the flight log. 

States (and some localities) may have additional regulations regarding flights and equipment. It is the PI and/or remote PIC’s responsibility to know and follow any such laws and regulations. A list of Virginia-specific laws and regulations can be found here, though it is the responsibility of the PI and/or remote PIC to ensure they are aware of all current laws and regulations. 

International flights 

Prior to bringing any VIMS & Batten School-owned sUAS out of the country, the PI and/or remote PIC must first contact the ORAS via flyUAS@vims.edu to ensure all applicable export controls and other legal restrictions are met. 

It is the PI and/or remote PIC’s responsibility to ensure proper permission is obtained from the landowner prior to any flights occurring from a property. This may include additional permits or coordination. Any formal documentation of permission should be included with the flight log.  

It is the PI and/or remote PIC’s responsibility to ensure the sUAS and the flight(s) comply with all laws and regulations specific to the location of the flight(s) including, but not limited to, remote ID transmitter requirements, pilot licenses/exams, airspace authorizations, equipment restrictions, etc.