Ohio University Drone Documents

College of Engineering is gathering the requested records.

John J. Biancamano | General Counsel

Ohio University | 185 Lindley Hall | Athens, Ohio 45701-2979
Office: 740.593.2626 | Fax: 740.593.0200 | Cell: 614.448.8008

Still working on it.

Mr. Musgrave,

The following is a response to most of the requests in your August 16, 2012 email.

1. any requests for proposals, proposals submitted by vendors, contracts, budgets or cost allocations for the purchase and/or use of aerial drones, UAs, UAVs, and UASs (hereinafter “drones”), as well as research services or other services related to drones;

Response: we are still trying to locate these documents and will get them to you shortly.

2. any policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on use of drones, including on the legal process required (such as a warrant or court order), if any, before operating a drone;

Response: Our airframes meet the FAA requirements for RC planes. They have only been flown at the Ohio University Snyder Field airport in Albany Ohio (UNI) and the Blennerhassett Area RC Club airfield in Belpre, Ohio (http://www.barcc.us/). We have no internal guidelines for their operation other than the FAA rules on RC aircraft.

3. any records concerning this organization's use of drones now or plans to use drones in the future including:

a. the types of investigations or instances in which this university is using or plans to use drones, or how it plans to support, manage or oversee the usage of drones by another university or office;

Response: Our use of UAVs is limited to research into electronic navigation, attitude control, turbulence avoidance, and autonomous flight.

b. policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on storage requirements or procedures for video or static images obtained through use of drones, including retention times;

Response: We have no internal policies, guidelines, or manuals related to video or static images obtained from UAVs.

c. the altitude at which drones can or do fly;

Response: Our airframes fly only at locations and altitudes allowed by the FAA’s rules on RC aircraft.

d. drones’ ability to carry weapons.

Response: Our airframes are designed to carry navigation electronics and have a maximum cargo capacity of 1 to 5 pounds. None of our research efforts have included weapons and we have no plans to perform that kind of work in the future.

John J. Biancamano I General Counsel

Ohio University I 185 Lindley Hall I Athens, Ohio 45701-2979
Office: 740.593.2626 I Fax: 740.593.2000 I Cell: 614.448.8008
biancama@ohio.edu

On Aug. 31, 2012:

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 16, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

---

On Aug. 16, 2012:

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Ohio Open Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. any requests for proposals, proposals submitted by vendors, contracts, budgets or cost allocations for the purchase and/or use of aerial drones, UAs, UAVs, and UASs (hereinafter “drones”), as well as research services or other services related to drones;

2. any policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on use of drones, including on the legal process required (such as a warrant or court order), if any, before operating a drone;

3. any records concerning this organization's use of drones now or plans to use drones in the future including:

a. the types of investigations or instances in which this university is using or plans to use drones, or how it plans to support, manage or oversee the usage of drones by another university or office;

b. policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on storage requirements or procedures for video or static images obtained through use of drones, including retention times;

c. the altitude at which drones can or do fly;

d. drones’ ability to carry weapons.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I would request your response within ten (10) business days.

Sincerely,

Shawn Musgrave

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 1738
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

PLEASE NOTE the new address as well as the fact that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than MuckRock News) requests might be returned by the USPS as undeliverable.

Did you see this?

Please disregard my previous email, it was not meant for you.

Mr. Musgrave,
Attached are the only two grants we have been able to identify that relate to research using drones.
We do not have other records responsive to your request.
-- John Biancamano

John J. Biancamano I General Counsel

Ohio University I 1 Ohio University I Athens, Ohio 45701-2979
Office: 740.593.2626 I Fax: 740.593.0200 I Cell: 614.448.8008

As indicated in my April 12 response, we do not have other records responsive to your request.

This man won't go away!