University of North Texas 
UAS Procedures
If you want to operate or have another person operate an unmanned aircraft system (drone) for personal, educational, work or another use on the University of North Texas campus, you will need to register before you use it and you will need to follow the appropriate UNT and federal procedures below.
Please reach out to AskRMS@unt.edu if you have any questions regarding this information.
UNT Units will need to notify Risk Management Services (RMS) to express intentions and begin the process of acquiring a UAS. Please do this prior to acquiring or spending money on a unmanned aircraft system (drone).
Step 1: Notify Risk Management Services
The UNT employee or department contact that wants to acquire a UAS (drone) will fill
out the first page of the UAS Use Permit Application, which can be found on our Forms page. After you have filled out that first page, email it to RMS@unt.edu.
All pages after the first one are for use by pilots/operators once a UAS/drone flight
has been scheduled. Please note, to schedule a fight on campus, you must also go through
an approval process with the Federal Aviation Administration and UNT. This is required
because UNT is near the Denton Airport.
Step 2: Review and training
RMS will provide follow-up discussions on the usage and intentions of acquiring a
UAS.
RMS will provide the established point-of-contact an introductory packet which will consist of:
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UAS Policy, Unmanned Aircraft System, 15.016
- UAS Usage Procedures
- UAS Usage Flowchart
- FAA Safety Briefing: You & UAS
- Any other helpful tips and contact information
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Step 3: Purchase and protect
The department will proceed to purchase or manufacture a UAS.
Upon receipt of the UAS, the department will need to tag and inventory the equipment
by contacting UNT Property Management. This helps ensure that the item is recorded
so that UNT can keep track of it. Please also ensure your UAS/drone is kept in a secured
location.
Email: property.management@unt.edu
Phone: (940) 565-2392
The following four classifications for UAS/drone usage require permission from Risk Managment Services when on UNT's campus areas. Please note that commercial usage requires FAA approval in addition to UNT approval.
Recreational Operation
Personal recreational operation of a UAS is not permitted on UNT property unless UAS
operations are in conjunction with a UNT-sponsored event AND prior review and approval from RMS has been completed. For the RMS approval, skip
to the UNT Registration section on this page.
Educational Operation
The educational use of a UAS is permitted on UNT property when conducted as part of
students' coursework AND with approval from RMS. For the RMS approval, skip to the UNT Registration section
on this page.
For research and experimental flights, see the commercial operation requirements below.
Indoor Operation
Indoor use of UAS is permitted on UNT property or UNT-sponsored activities off campus
with approval from RMS. For the RMS approval, skip to the UNT Registration section
on this page.
Commercial Operation
Commercial UAS operations are permitted by a Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) and in
compliance with FAA regulations with approval from RMS. For the RMS approval, skip
to the UNT Registration section on this page.
RPIC refers to the licensed pilot solely responsible for the safe operations of a
UAS. An RPIC may only fly or be responsible for one aircraft at a time.
Once the classification for operation has been determined, the UAS operator will need
to obtain required licenses for qualifications to fly.
The UAS pilot must obtain permission for UAS operations on private property as necessary.
Note: several UNT properties abut private property.
- Licenses are valid for one or two years, based on the pilot certification.
- The necessary actions to obtain licenses and qualifications will be provided in the introductory packet from RMS.
- RMS can be contacted at by email or phone at RMS@unt.edu or 940-565-2109.
- Should this use require a third-party to act as pilot or if the goal is to sell or give the drone footage to someone who is not affiliated with UNT, please also contact the UNT University Brand Strategy & Marketing's photo team lead for approval.
FAA airspace authorization
FAA airspace authorization must be obtained as needed for commercial outdoor activities.
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FAA airspace authorization is mandatory when a UAS is operated outdoors within five miles of an airport. Note: UNT is approximately three miles from the Denton Enterprise Airport.
- The UAS operator must request and obtain a Certificate of Authorization, COA, from the FAA.
- A copy of the COA must be sent to RMS.
- The RPIC must notify the airport(s) within five miles of the operation site.
All Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV) or drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and flown outdoors, must be registered by the operator with the Federal Aviation Administration.
- UAV's weighing less than 55 pounds must be registered online at: https://registermyuas.faa.gov/.
- Upon FAA registration, a number will be provided for the UAV.
- UAV's weighing more than 55 pounds must be registered in accordance with Traditional Aircraft Registration requirements under 14 CFR Part 47. For more information, visit https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/UA/. UNT Units must inform RMS prior to registering UAVs weighing more than 55 pounds.
If the UAS will be operated outdoors, the FAA registration number must be placed on the UAV.
- The first steps within these procedures are treated as pre-work before completion of the UAS Use Permit Application.
- The UAS Use Permit Application can be found on our Forms page. This includes the pages that will need to be filled out by the pilot/operator of the UAS, information about the UAS and more.
- The UAS Use Permit Application must be completed and submitted to RMS@unt.edu at least two weeks in advance of the proposed use of the UAS.
- Review and approval of the UAS Use Permit Application by RMS must be granted prior to any UAS operation on UNT property or at any UNT-sponsored events.
- The requestor will receive a response from RMS within 10 business days of submission. An incomplete form will delay processing.
- If UAS use is research related, RMS will submit the UAS Use Permit Application to Export Control for review.
- Once reviewed and approved by RMS, a UAS Use Permit will be granted.
- The UAS Use Permit is valid for one calendar year and is limited to the UAS(s) and personnel identified in the permit.
- To renew the UAS Use Permit with RMS or to make any changes, applicants must resubmit the UAS Use Permit Application.
Third-party requests to operate a UAS on UNT property for media or other use must receive approval from the Division of University Brand Strategy and Communications (UBSC). Click here to reach their contact page and connect with their Photo team.
UBSC will work with the third-party to identify if they are approved for use, and to fill out necessary forms prior to use.