DOI UAS News & Media
Department of the Interior Press Releases on UAS
- March 12, 2021 - Guidance Memo: UAS Flights for Emergency Operations and Training: Amended Guidance under Secretary’s Order 3379
- January 19, 2021 - AS PMB Memo - Restoring OAS Authority to Procure Blue sUAS
- October 6, 2020 - Important Update on Secretary's Order 3379 and Blue Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- January 29, 2020 - S.O. 3379 - Temporary Cessation of Non-Emergency Unmanned Aircraft Systems Fleet Operations
- January 29, 2020 - Secretary Bernhardt Signs Order Grounding Interior's Drone Fleet for Non-Emergency Operations
- October 10, 2019 - Changes in DOI Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Acquisition
- February 14, 2019 - FAA Makes Major Drone ID Marking Change
- September 19, 2018 - DOI and FAA Collaborate on Expanded Blanket Area sUAS Class G Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA)
- August 20, 2018 - DOI UAS in Aerial Ignition - Aggressively Managing Fuels With Enhanced Efficiency and Safety
- May 31, 2018 - DOI UAS Teams Supporting Volcano Monitoring & Emergency Response / Rescue
- May 15, 2018 - Interior Awards First Contract for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Services
- March 13, 2018 - Interior Expands Capabilities with Vertical Take Off and Landing Fixed Wing Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- February 21, 2018 - Interior Announces 2017 Drone Mission Report
- October 4, 2017 - Commercial Drone Alliance’s Inaugural “Industry Heroes” Award Winners Named at Drone World Expo: End User Innovator of The Year
- June 9, 2017 - Interior Expands Information Sharing Initiative to Prevent Drone Incursions over Wildland Fires
- August 16, 2016 - U.S. Department of the Interior Awards Contract for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- July 25, 2016 - As Wildfire Season Continues to Heat up, Interior Partners with Industry to Eliminate Drone Intrusions
DOI UAS in the News
News items previously listed in this section have been re-located to our external news section, please visit DOI UAS in the News for the most current external news items. Articles we cannot link to externally will be listed below.
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October 8, 2019 - Microsoft takes to the skies with UAS program for DOI
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June 5, 2018 - Highlights regarding DOI Drone Program from the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Hearing
- March 2018 - Drones to the Rescue - Scholastic News
- Fire & Rescue Magazine Article: Above and Beyond
DOI UAS Videos
Video items previously listed in this section have been re-located to our DOI UAS Videos page, additionally some videos may be listed on our external news page if they were part of a news story, please visit DOI UAS in the News.
- September 5, 2019 - OAS Flight Testing of UAS Based Water Sampling Capability in Support of Bureau Requirements - Improved Sensing, Safety, Savings, & Service
- August 30, 2019 - Sheridan Fire UAS Aerial Ignition Videos
- July 12, 2019 - Compilation of 2014 and 2015 Optionally Piloted Helicopter Demonstration Flights
- March 27, 2019 - USGS Tests New Drone Technology to Measure Floodwaters
- August 6, 2018 - DOI Contracted UAS Locates Spot Fires, Directs Firefighters to Extinguish, Prevents Spread
- Video Link: BLM Spot Fire Video August 6, 2018
- Interior Museum Lunchtime Lecture Series: Drones for Good: The DOI Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program
- USGS Volcano Hazards Program: Videos and Short Movie Clips of Kīlauea
- Kīlauea Summit UAS footage shows an ever growing Halema‘uma‘u Crater
- May 27, 2018 - Follow the drone to safety, UAS mission in Kīlauea helps guide evacuations and rescued a local resident
DOI UAS PowerPoint Presentations and PodCasts
- August 22, 2019 -
OAS Director Presentation to DHS CISA UAS Cyber Working Group - August 21, 2019 - OAS Director Presentation - with Speaker's Notes to 2019 AUVSI Defense Protection Security Conference
- August 19, 2019 - OAS Director Presentation to District of Columbia Mayor's UAS Working Group
- August 1, 2019 - Blog Talk Radio: DOI Drones: Guest Mark Bathrick, Director, Office of Aviation Services
- May 13, 2019 - Optionally Piloted Helicopters - A Wildfire Game Changer - OAS Director Briefing to OAS Senior Leadership Team
- April 26, 2019 - OAS Director Mark Bathrick Keynote Speaker at the University of Idaho Engineering Expo
- October 15, 2018 - OAS Richard Thurau's Imagine Nation Presentation at ELC
- September 26, 2018 - OAS Director Mark Bathrick's Keynote to 2018 New York State Geospatial Summit, Skaneateles Falls, NY
- July 12, 2018 - OAS Director Presentation to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction
- April 26, 2018 - OAS Director Mark Bathrick's Presentation at NextGov - Technology as a Force for Change
- April 2018 - OAS Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Testing – Emergency Equipment Delivery
- February 8, 2018 - AUVSI Defense Protection Safety Conference Presentation: DOI Drones for Good (with speaker's notes)
- September 18, 2017 - OAS Director Mark Bathrick's Presentation at IT Innovation Day "Fedstival 2017"
- November 1, 2016 - OAS Director Mark Bathrick's Presentation at the Commercial UAV Expo
- September 6, 2016 - Asia Pacific Aerial Firefighting International Conference Presentation - UAS in Aerial Ignition
- August 2, 2016 - DOI Lightning Presentation, White House Workshop on Harnessing the Potential of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- March 2016 - Aerial Firefighting International - Sacramento - Fire UAS Briefing V2.2 With Videos
- November 2015 - OAS Director, Mark L. Bathrick MBA, Presentation at Drone World Expo
- How to Develop and Sustain a Successful Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program for Enhanced Science, Safety, and Savings - USGS Workshop
DOI UAS Reports, Information Bulletins, Guides & Policy Document Releases
- February 1, 2021 -
U.S. Department of the Interior Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program 2020 Use Report - January 20, 2021 - DOI UAS Fleet Inventory
- October 15, 2020 - Interagency Aviation Safety Alert 21-01 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) DJI M600 Mishaps
- October 6, 2020 - Important Update on Secretary's Order 3379 and Blue Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- May 21, 2020 - DOI "Designated UAS" Assessment Guide
- May 08, 2020 - Memorandum: "Designated UAS" under Secretary's Order 3379
- December 10, 2020 - Updated - UAS Waiver and Reporting Form Instructions
- December 10, 2020 - Updated - UAS Emergency Readiness Waiver Form
- December 10, 2020 - Updated - UAS Emergency Ops Reporting Form
- March 24, 2020 - US Department of the Interior Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program 2019 Use Report
- February 14, 2020 - Implementation Guidance on Secretary's Order 3379
- January 10, 2020 - DOI Fleet Aircraft FY19 Flight Hours by Mission Code
- December 2, 2019 - UAS Data Collection at U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Sites - Over the past 3 years, USBR demonstrated how UAS were able to collect data faster, cheaper, and safer than traditional methods. A total of nine demonstrations were conducted, comprising 39 UAS projects resulting in nearly 100 hours of UAS flight time. The data collected were both higher quality and in greater quantity than what had been collected with traditional methods. Cracks can be detected to 1/8 inch or better, topographical maps can be generated to 1-foot contours, and IR data (at 400 ft AGL) can be resolved to a resolution of 9 inches per pixel compared to satellite imagery that is around 36 inches per pixel. The demonstration projects discussed herein showed that the typical photogrammetric project required about 2 to 3 weeks to complete, from flight planning to data collection to data processing. Finally, the safety enhancements of operating a UAS is substantial. Because UAS can access areas that are hazardous for humans to access, or are otherwise impossible to reach, human hazards are significantly mitigated.
- November 19, 2019 - BLM UAS 2019 - Unmanned Aircraft System Operations by the Bureau of Land Management for Training, Natural Resources, and Wildland Fire, in Fiscal Year 2019
- November 18, 2019 - FY2019 DOI UAS Flight Use Charts
- November 8, 2019 - DOI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Layered Data Management Assurance / Security Approach
- November 8, 2019 -
UAS Flight Use Report FY19 - Dept of the Interior - for FAA - Operator Names and locations removed - November 8, 2019 - UAS Flight Use Report FY18 - Dept of the Interior - for FAA - Operator Names and locations removed
- November 27, 2019 - DOI UAS Payload Requirements
- November 6, 2019 - Comparison of Draft Army Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) UAS Specification with Representative Master UAS Requirements for the DOI
- September 6, 2019 - Department of the Interior Unmanned Aircraft System Historical and Future Projected Flight Totals - 2010 - 2025
- August 13, 2019 - DOI Drone vs Services Procurement Decision Guide
- August 2, 2019 - Skid Fire UAS Flight and Data Collection Summary
- August 2, 2019 - Roberts Fire UAS Flight and Data Collection Summary
- July 25, 2019 - U.S. Department of the Interior Small UAS Selection and Acquisition Process
- July 19, 2019 - Key Messages and FAQ's - OAS UAS Data Management Assurance Flight Test and Technical Evaluation Report
- July 2, 2019 - Flight Test and Technical Evaluation Report - DJI Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Mission Functionality and Data Management Assurance Assessment: This Flight Test and Technical Evaluation Report presents results of an assessment of the flight, payload, and data management assurance performance of the SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. Matrice 600 Pro and Mavic Pro unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) modified with DJI Government Edition (GE) hardware, firmware, and software for suitability in selected Interior bureau missions. Test articles were operated under the Office of Aviation Services (OAS) Test Plan for Validation and Verification of Data Security Software for Employment of DJI UAS Platforms, originally signed on April 9, 2018 and later updated with approved Modifications One and Two of November 14 and 16, 2018, respectively.
- July 3, 2019 Limited Authorization to Acquire and Operate Selected SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Based on the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Flight Test and Technical Evaluation Report of the completed DJI Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Mission Functionality and Data Management Assurance Assessment, this letter provides limited authorization for Interior to acquire and operate selected and specially configured DJI UAS in support of wildfire, SAR, emergency response, natural resources, and other applicable bureau missions.
- DOI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program - 2018 Use Report
- DOI UAS Best Practices for Responsible Operations
- Master UAS Requirements for the DOI
- OAS Information Paper - Previous UAS Work and Accomplishments Related to Section 1114 - Wildfire Technology Modernization of the John D Dingell Jr, Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act
- DOI Supported UAS Use on Wildland Fire (2019 Projected) (Updated 03/27/2019)
- BLM: UAS Cultural Resource Summary 2014-2017
- July 12, 2017 - DOI UAS Report - Relationship of Fire Discovery Times on the Timeliness of Aerial Firefighting Support
- July 31, 2018 - DOI UAS Concept Paper - In Your Hand and On Demand – A concept for enhanced awareness, effectiveness, & safety
- November 09, 2018 - DOI UAS Field Report - Henry Smith Site, Montana
- October 14, 2018 - DOI OAS UAS Briefing Paper - Positive Impacts of DOI's Expanded VLOS - EVLOS - BVLOS Authorities
- September 19, 2018 - DOI OAS UAS Briefing Paper - Call-When-Needed UAS Contract Usage Update
- August 31, 2018 - DOI OAS UAS Briefing Paper - August 2018 Update on Current OAS UAS Support for Wildland Fire
- August 6, 2018 - DOI UAS Background Information Paper - Optionally Piloted Helicopters - A Primer On A Potentially Game-Changing Technology That Promises To Save Lives, Property, And Money In Wildland Fire
- August 6, 2018 - DOI OAS UAS Briefing Paper - Aerial Ignition UAS and Payload Development
- August 6, 2018 - DOI OAS UAS Briefing Paper - Aerial Ignition OT&E Field Report
- August 3, 2018 - 2018 Wildland Fire Incursion Events of Unauthorized UAS
- August 3, 2018 - OAS Briefing Paper - Drone Incursions on Wildfires - Key Messages - July 2018 Update
- April 2018 - OAS Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Testing – Emergency Equipment Delivery
- Searchable DOI UAS Imagery Data Note: (Select "UAS" under the "dataset" tab for UAS imagery results)
- DOI UAS Data Research
- USGS UAS Publications
- USGS UAS Poster Gallery
- December 11, 2017 - DOI Fiscal Year 2017 UAS Flights Summary with GACC Maps
- November 2017 - Virgin Islands National Park 2017 Hurricane Maria UAS Operations Report
- October 2017 - Grand Canyon National Park UAS Program 1 Year Report
- August 2017 - Drones on Wildfires - August, 2017, Southern Oregon - PowerPoint with Video
- August 28, 2017 - Young Fire UAS Test and Demonstration
- August 8, 2017 - Information Bulletin 17-01 Unstable flight and loss of GPS caused by having 3DR Solo App running while also having Tower and/or Mission Planner running during flight.
- July 2017 - Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Guide
- June 2017 - Boundary Fire Unmanned Aircraft System Operations After Action Review (AAR) and Lessons Learned
- May 25, 2017 - Irwin GeoPlatform Service User Guide V1.0
- August 17, 2016 - North Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Testing & Evaluation After Action Review
- May 2016 - Homestead National Monument Aerial Ignition UAS Test Results
- NWCG Memorandum No. 16-006 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Incursion Protocol for Wildland Firefighter
- NWCG Memorandum No. 16-006a Incursion Decision Tree
- 2015 Tepee Springs Fire - Payette National Forest - Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Test and Evaluation - Overview of Preliminary Results
- 2015 Demonstration of the Optionally Piloted K-Max Helicopter - Overview of Preliminary Results
- 2015 Paradise Fire Olympic National Park Initial Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Test and Evaluation Overview of Preliminary Results
- August 14, 2015 - DOI - eCOA for Paradise Fire in Olympic National Park
- 2015 Unmanned Aircraft Technology Demonstration Overview