PWCFRS UAS Training VO

[Audio] Welcome to the PWCFRS training class for Visual Observers (VOs) regarding drone operations. This presentation is tailored for PWCFRS members who are new and familiar to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and FAA regulations. During this presentation we'll cover what a visual observer is, why the role is important for Part 107 drone missions, key responsibilities and best practices, communication and safety protocols, and real-world examples from public safety operations. By the end, you'll understand how a VO acts as a crucial team member to ensure safe, legal, and effective drone flights during emergency responses..

[Audio] What exactly is a Visual Observer? In simple terms, it's an extra set of eyes for the drone pilot. The FAA defines a VO as a person designated by the pilot in command to assist in "seeing and avoiding" other air traffic or hazards during flight. Think of the VO as a spotter: while the pilot concentrates on controlling the drone and is unable to see the drone or is concentrating on the camera feed on the screen. The VO's sole job is to keep eyes on the drone and its surroundings. Importantly, the VO must always maintain "direct visual sight" of the drone without aids like binoculars, normal vision (corrective glasses or contacts are exempt). This ensures that if something unexpected happens, someone is always watching the aircraft, and ready to immediately relay that information to the pilot. Using a VO is not mandatory under Part 107 for every flight, but it is strongly recommended in nearly all flights. Especially for public safety missions, having a VO on the team adds a layer of safety and confidence that an extra set of eyes brings. Other than specific instances, anytime the pilot cannot see the aircraft, a VO is required. VOs also look out for non-aircraft hazards like power lines or tall antennas, and even birds, other drones or trees nearby. They can yell "Stop!" if the drone is getting too close to a building or if people are gathering underneath the flight area. Additionally, by having a VO, the pilot can devote full attention to maneuvering the drone or interpreting thermal images, knowing that the VO will warn the pilot of any danger. This division of labor is a huge relief in high-stress scenarios. Picture a large building fire at night: the pilot is trying to position the drone to see the roof, while managing thermal camera settings. Meanwhile, the VO is scanning the dark sky for any other aircraft, keeping track of the drone's blinking lights through smoke, and ensuring it doesn't stray or lose signal. In such emergencies, that VO is truly a lifesaver for the operation – catching things the pilot might miss and thereby preventing crashes or mission failures. Power lines at night, are practically invisible. Overall, a VO makes drone missions safer, more compliant, and more effective, which is exactly what we need in both emergency and nonemergency deployments..

[Audio] The Visual Observer's importance cannot be overstated – especially in public safety operations. First, the VO guarantees that someone always has eyes on the drone, fulfilling the FAA's visual line-of-sight requirement. For example, if a PWCFRS pilot is flying using a first-person view camera (looking at the screen as opposed to looking at the aircraft) regulations mandate a visual observer be present to maintain unaided sight of the aircraft. Beyond legal compliance, VOs are our main defense against mid-air collisions. Their primary purpose is to scan for any other aircraft or aerial hazards and immediately alert the pilot to any potential mishap. At a fire scene, or any type of event, emergency or other, the pilot might be concentrating on camera feeds or navigation. The VO is the necessary extra set of eyes should a news helicopter or low-flying medical transport helicopter becomes a potential threat..

[Audio] Let's break down what a Visual Observer actually does during a flight. The VO's number one responsibility is to "keep the drone in sight, at all times." You should never lose track of where that little aircraft is in the sky. This means actively watching it and knowing its orientation (for example, whether it's facing towards you or away) so you can help gauge its path. Next, the VO must scan the skies continuously. This isn't a casual glance now and then – it's an active, 360-degree lookout for any hazard in the air. That includes other drones or airplanes, and even things like birds that could strike the UAS. On the ground or in the environment, the VO also looks for things like power lines, radio towers, or trees that the drone could hit. If the operation is near people (say a crowd at event or other firefighters/police on scene), the VO watches that no one wanders into the drone's flight path or underneath a low-flying drone. Essentially, the VO is the mission's "safety officer" for all things in the sky. Equally important is communication. The FAA requires that the pilot, any person controlling the drone, and the VO are in constant communication during the flight. As a VO, you must speak up immediately and clearly at the first sign of a problem. If you see a helicopter coming, or even have a bad feeling about cloud cover or fog rolling in, you must let the pilot know" right away". A VO also should have a basic awareness of the flight rules and the mission parameters. You don't need to be a licensed pilot to be a VO, but you should know if the mission is required to stay below 200 feet and you see the drone climbing too high, the pilot needs to be informed right away. In short, the VO is an active participant: continuously observing, communicating, and helping the pilot make safe decisions. The pilot relies on the VO to call out hazards and sometimes to make judgment calls: for instance, if you yell "Land now!" because a hazard is imminent, the pilot should trust that and land immediately. That trust and clarity of roles is what keeps operations safe..

[Audio] To be an effective VO, preparation and discipline can go a long way. Start with a pre-flight briefing with the pilot and any other crew. This is when the pilot explains the mission objectives (e.g. "We'll be searching the far side of the building at 100' or less). The flight plan, and any known hazards (like "There are power lines to the west" or "News Helo in area"). As a VO, make sure you're told what altitude the drone will fly, the area it will operate in, and what to especially watch out for. This way, you're not caught off guard during the flight. You will anticipate where the drone should be and can quickly notice if it goes off track or if something unexpected appears near its present and projected flightpath. Next, think about where to position yourself. Ideally, you stand close enough to the pilot to talk without needing radios (when possible). This proximity helps you both hear each other and stay in sync. You also want a clear line-of-sight to the operational area – if the pilot is under a canopy or beside a building corner, you might step a few paces out to get a wider view, but don't stray so far that communication suffers. In some cases (like around a big building), you might even reposition during flight to keep eyes on the drone – just ensure the pilot knows and you have a way to talk continuously "handheld radio or yelling distance". For scanning the sky, be "systematic". It's easy to stare at the drone and forget to scan around it – or vice versa. A good technique is the "clock method". Imagine the pilot at the center of a clock. The drone's direction from the pilot can be described like "Drone at 1 o'clock." As VO, use this mentally: check around at 12, 3, 6, 9 o'clock positions relative to where the pilot is facing, and vary your scan between high and low angles. Every few seconds, sweep your eyes around the horizon and back to the drone. This prevents tunnel vision. Keep your eyes moving; experienced observers use a pattern that covers the area in front, above, below and around the drone in a few seconds, then repeat continuously. It helps to reduce eye fatigue and ensures you catch movement (like a bird or aircraft) in your peripheral vision. It is crucial to establish clear communication protocols with the pilot before you fly. Come up with short, unambiguous phrases for common situations. For example, if the drone is nearing the limit of how far you can see it clearly, you might say "Approaching distance!" to warn the pilot not to go further. If you momentarily lose sight of the drone behind a tree or glare, call out "Lost visual!" so the pilot knows to pause or hover until you regain it. If you spot another aircraft, use the clock system: e.g., "Aircraft, 10 o'clock high, moving fast" to give direction and urgency. For emergencies requiring immediate action, something like "Land now!" or "Climb, climb, climb!" (to avoid an object) can be pre-agreed. The key is that both you and the pilot know these calls and respond without delay. It's worth practicing these in training drills so it becomes second nature. And when communicating, stay calm and speak clearly – this helps the pilot understand you even if stress is high. Finally, "eliminate distractions". While acting as VO, you shouldn't be doing anything else – no managing the.

[Audio] Good communication is the lifeline between the VO and the pilot. By regulation, if a VO is being used, you must always maintain effective communication. Practically, this means the VO and pilot should be talking regularly and be able to hear each other instantly when needed. The simplest way is to stand next to each other so you can just speak and listen naturally. In a quiet open field, that works great. But in public safety scenarios, it might be noisy, or you might need a little separation for a better vantage point. In those cases, using radios or headsets is the way to go – just ensure they're on and working before takeoff (nothing worse than realizing mid-flight that your radio is on the wrong channel!). Always include a comms check in your pre-flight routine. When communicating during the operation, use clear and concise language. This is not the time for longwinded descriptions. Pilots and VOs often adopt brief standard phrases. For example, to report a hazard, a VO might use the clock system: "Traffic, 3 o'clock high" – meaning there's another aircraft or hazard in the direction of 3 o'clock relative to the pilot, and above the horizon. The brevity and format help the pilot grasp it quickly ("3 o'clock high" tells them where to look). If a VO loses sight of the drone, instead of panicking, they can say firmly, "Cannot locate the drone," which alerts the pilot to maybe hover or use Return-to-Home if needed. On the pilot's side, they should also announce certain actions: e.g., "Launching," "Descending," or "Landing now," so the VO is aware of what the drone is about to do. This two-way communication keeps both parties in sync. It's also crucial that the pilot acknowledges what the VO says. If you're the VO and you shout, "Aircraft coming – climb, climb, climb!" and the pilot does it, you want to hear a quick "Climbing!" or "Copy!" from them. If you don't hear anything, you may need to repeat the warning in case they missed it. Both sides confirming ensures the message was received. In tense moments, the VO might have to be loud and clear – don't hesitate if it's an emergency. For true emergencies, it helps to have a very distinct abort signal. Some teams use a specific word like "Abort!" or "Terminate!" that anyone can shout if they see an immediate danger (like a helicopter about to intersect the drone's airspace). When that word is spoken by the VO, the pilot knows it's serious and will execute an immediate landing or hover at a safe altitude depending on the situation. Discuss these in advance: for instance, agree that if either person says, "hold position," the pilot will let the drone hover until further notice. This way, both the pilot and VO have a clear understanding of emergency communication, which can save valuable seconds in a crisis. In summary, keep the chatter relevant and minimal, but ensure a constant line of communication. It should be easy and second nature for you and the pilot to talk throughout the flight, because in the moment that something goes wrong, that channel needs to be wide open..

[Audio] Apart from in-flight duties, there are several safety protocols surrounding the VO role. Before the drone ever leaves the ground, the VO should be part of the pre-flight safety routine. This means walking the area with the pilot to spot potential hazards: Are there power lines across the street? Is there pedestrian traffic we need to control? How about overhead obstacles like cranes or tall trees? Identifying these early means you won't be taken by surprise during flight. Also consider the airspace: for example, if you're near a hospital, there might be medevac helicopters – plan for that. Discuss weather, too; if winds pick up, at what point will you call it off? It's good to do a brief team huddle where the pilot says, "If X happens, we'll do Y." For instance, "If I lose control signal, the drone will hover or RTH (Return-to-Home). If we lose sight of it for more than 10 seconds, I'll hit the RTH button," etc. That way, both pilot and VO know the game plan for various contingencies. During flight, "visual line-of-sight" is non-negotiable. The FAA requires that either the pilot or VO (or collectively as a team) always has eyes on the drone. If you're the VO and you see the drone is about to go behind a building or too far out, warn the pilot: "Approaching visual limit." Don't let it just disappear. If you do briefly lose sight, communicate it immediately ("Cannot locate drone!") so the pilot can respond (maybe ascend above the obstacle or return closer). Never assume it's okay to fly blind, even for a moment – that's when incidents happen. In tricky terrain, sometimes the VO might move a few steps, or the pilot might adjust the flight path to keep visibility. Always prioritize maintaining that line-of-sight. Another important protocol: clarify that the VO has the authority to call for a stop or emergency landing. In aviation, safety is paramount, and anyone who sees a hazard is empowered to speak up. As a VO, you should feel responsible to veto the flight if needed. If something looks unsafe, you can say "Hold on, come back and land," and the pilot should respect that call. It might feel awkward to interrupt, especially if a commanding officer is piloting, but remember, you were assigned as VO to be the safety advocate. It's better to err on the side of caution. After the flight, a quick debrief is a great habit. Perhaps you'll note, "Hey, when you flew behind that tower, I lost sight for a bit – next time we should reposition, or I should stand on the other side." Or maybe the pilot says, "I couldn't hear your first call-out because of the engine noise – maybe we need louder comms or different wording." These discussions will continuously sharpen your teamwork. For public safety agencies, documenting any issues and how they were resolved also helps build standard operating procedures for future missions. The goal is to learn from each flight and ensure the next one is even safer..

[Audio] To wrap up, let's reinforce the key message: Visual Observers are indispensable partners in public safety drone operations. When lives are on the line or critical information is needed from above, the last thing we want is an avoidable drone accident. The VO is there to make sure that doesn't happen. They put safety first, vigilantly scanning for anything that could go wrong and giving the pilot the heads-up to prevent it. This protects not only the people on the ground (imagine preventing a drone from failing and falling during a crowd event) but also protects your agency's valuable drone hardware and reputation. A crashed drone or airspace conflict can set a program back; VOs help avoid those pitfalls. From a compliance standpoint, having a VO is like having a built-in check that you're following the rules. They help maintain that required visual line-of-sight, and they know the do's and don'ts (for instance, making sure the drone isn't hovering over bystanders or that it yields to any manned aircraft). This keeps your operation on the right side of the law, which is especially important for fire departments that operate in sensitive emergency scenes. It also reassures the FAA and the public that your team is taking all precautions. In terms of teamwork and effectiveness, think of the pilot and VO as a specialized unit working in tandem. The pilot's flying skills combined with the VO's observational skills create a powerful combination, allowing your team to tackle tough scenarios – whether it's navigating in a tight urban canyon of buildings or coordinating airspace during a multi-agency disaster response. The VO essentially multiplies the pilot's capabilities by handling the external scan while the pilot handles the controls. This synergy often means missions are accomplished more quickly and with fewer interruptions. Final point: Whenever you can, deploy a VO as part of your drone crew. It's a best practice that pays off by preventing incidents that could endanger people or ground your drone program. In public safety, we always preach having backup and redundancy – think of a VO as exactly that for your drone flights: a critical backup that ensures every mission is safe, compliant, and effective. Thank you for help keeping the skies above the Prince William County, and beyond, SAFE!.