UAV - Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Equipment / Tooling; Procedure
Aircraft 1 was a remotely piloted aircraft. I was taking over as CIC and was briefed by the person I was taking over for that Aircraft 1 was NORDO. The only way we had to communicate with Aircraft 1 was a line at the watch desk; because none of the phone numbers filed with the flight plan worked. Later; the OM told me that there was some kind of issue with water damage at the base where the pilot of Aircraft 1 was located; and that's why none of the phone numbers worked. So; had there been an emergency or something; we would've had to go through the OM to issue any kind of clearance. I'm not even sure what the procedure for that would be... would we say 'ATC clears' to the OM since the OM isn't certified in our area? Many of us as controllers are uncomfortable with the lack of procedures for remotely piloted aircraft. At least in this instance we figured out a way to communicate with the pilot; but it still was an unsafe situation. We need to be better briefed on how to handle NORDO with a remotely piloted aircraft.
ZBW Controller reports lost comm with a UAV pilot; with none of the phone numbers filed with the flight plan working. Eventually communication is established through a line at the watch desk; but Controller suggests that better procedures should be in place.