Cowley County commissioners approved new rules to the county personnel policy on Tuesday regarding the use of unmanned aircraft for official business, including to protect people’s privacy. The rules set operational requirements for using unmanned aircraft (also referred to as UA, UAS or drones), including requiring employees to maintain the proper certifications and demonstrate that they understand all laws related to operation. UA’s must also be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. The rules also cover data collection, data storage and documentation requirements for employee to follow. All privacy laws at the federal, state and local levels must be followed, and any data collection or monitoring must be done solely for county business purposes. Any employee who needs to conduct operations over private property must have permission from the property owner before doing so. Employees who knowing violate the rules will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
