A UAS was used to take aerial photos of the college football game between Mississippi State University (MSU) and Louisiana State University (LSU) on Saturday, September 16.

The MSU Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, which leads FAA and Department of Homeland Security UAS research, led this mission, which was just the second mission of its kind to receive approval from the FAA. 

“While the operation was not particularly complex, the FAA authorization to perform the flight was extremely unique,” says Raspet Center graduate research assistant Madison Dixon, via the Starkville Daily News.

Because there are flight restrictions above major sporting events, the FAA had to approve this flight beforehand. MSU’s administration also had to approve it as well.

“In order to become authorized for this particular operation, we had to provide numerous operational details relating to the safety of the operators and the individuals in the audience,” Dixon adds.

For this flight, which took three months to plan and received FAA approval on September 12, a licensed UAS pilot was required to be in command, along with trained observers and safety officers. During the flight, the aircraft was restricted from flying over the stands.

Overall, Dixon says that the mission went off without a hitch.

“The mission was absolutely accomplished safely, smoothly and to the satisfaction of all involved,” Dixon says.