BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY
OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE MANUAL 11-502
29 JULY 2019
Flying Operations
SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
SYSTEMS
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available on the e-Publishing web site at
www.e-Publishing.af.mil for downloading or ordering.
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.
OPR: AFSOC/A3O
Supersedes: AFI 11-502V1, 19 August 2015;
AFI 11-502V2, 19 August 2015;
AFI 11-502V3, 21 August 2015
Certified by: AF/A3T
(Maj Gen Scott F. Smith)
Pages: 74
This manual implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 10-9, Lead Command Designation
and Responsibilities for Weapon Systems and AFPD 11-5, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(SUAS) Rules, Procedures, and Service. (Note: AFPD 11-4, Aviation Service does not apply to
non-rated SUAS operators.) It establishes the USAF Small Unmanned Aircraft System Operator
(SUAS-O) training program for Air Force military and civilian personnel, personnel from other
services and foreign personnel assigned or attached to USAF units, and for contracted SUAS-Os
as stipulated in contracts. This publication may be supplemented at any level, but all Supplements
must be rooted to the Office of Primary Responsibility of this publication for coordination prior to
certification and approval. Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to the
Office of Primary Responsibility using the AF Form 847, Recommendation for Change of
Publication; route AF Form 847 from the field through the appropriate functional chain of
command. The authorities to waive wing/unit level requirements in this publication are identified
with a tier (“T-0, T-1, T-2, T-3”) number following the compliance statement. See AFI 33-360,
Publications and Forms Management, for a description of the authorities associated with the tier
numbers. Submit request for waivers through the chain of command to the appropriate Tier waiver
approval authority, or alternately, to the requestors commander for non-tiered compliance items.
Ensure all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained in
accordance with (IAW) Air Force Manual 33-363, Management of Records, and disposed of IAW
Air Force Records Disposition Schedule located in the Air Force Records Information
