Public safety must fully comply with Part 107 or their COA (if operating as a public aircraft) just like any other (civilian) Part 107 operator, and BVLOS is not permitted for routine operations without a waiver for Part 107 operations and a specific provision in a COA (see waiver safety explanation guidelines for Part 107.31 waivers).  BVLOS remains a significant challenge given the state of technology in the industry, and is usually only granted in temporary, emergency situations.  If you encounter a situation where you must go BVLOS in an actual emergency, follow the Special Governmental Interest process to obtain a temporary, emergency waiver to 107.31 if flying under Part 107, or a temporary, emergency amendment to your existing COA if flying as a public aircraft.

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Part 107 is a performance based rule. It is the responsibility of the waiver applicant to measure their operation's risk, and the FAA evaluates the applications information, to ensure the level of risk is acceptable.

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A public aircraft operator (PAO) gets its flight operations authorized with a Certificate of Waiver of Authorization (COA).  A COA has specific conditions and limitations based on the authority the operator requests, i.e., night flying.  A PAO conducts its flight operations under Part 91. The information you need to provide would be similar.

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The FAA has posted a letter to your docket folder on www.regulations.gov. If your operation can be conducted under the Small UAS Rule (Part 107), your petition will be closed out. If your operation requires a waiver to Part 107 or cannot be conducted under the Rule, the FAA will contact you with specific information about the status of your petition.

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Your certificate is permanent unless revoked by the Administrator. After completing the initial knowledge test, you must update your recency of aeronautical knowledge within 24 calendar months to maintain currency.  To update your recency of aeronautical knowledge, complete the appropriate online ALC training course.

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If your old drone was registered under Recreational Flyer, simply re-attach your current registration number. If it was registered under Part 107, then you would have to register the replacement drone as a new drone since the old registration number is tied to the serial number of the old drone.

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No, the maps are for informational purposes only; they are meant to provide data that helps operators submit airspace authorization requests that can be quickly processed by FAA. An operator must obtain an airspace authorization to operate in controlled airspace in accordance with the Small UAS Rule (part 107).

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Part 107.51 details the 400 foot limitation with respect to structures on the ground. This applies to UAS or drones operating in Class G or Class E airspace. In other airspace classifications, like Class D airspace, an authorization per 107.41 is required.

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Since the operation you proposed does not meet the definition of a governmental function under Title 49 USC 40125(a)2, your only option is to fly under the Part 107 rule.

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No, they would not be considered part of the crew, as explained in the Advisory Circular 107-2.

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Yes, a train is a moving vehicle. If it is in motion, the restrictions in §107.39 would apply.

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Part 107 permits the transportation of property for compensation or hire, provided the operator complies with all the provisions of the rule, including:

• The operator must keep the UAS or drone within his/her sight
• The flight is conducted within visual line-of-sight and not from a moving vehicle
• External loads must be securely attached and cannot adversely affect the flight characteristics or controllability of the aircraft
• The aircraft with payload must weigh less than 55 pounds at takeoff.

The transportation must also occur wholly within the bounds of a state and may not involve transportation of property between:

• Hawaii and another place in Hawaii through airspace outside of Hawaii
• The District of Columbia and another place in the District of Columbia
• A territory or possession of the United States and another place in the same territory or possession.

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For the purposes of operating an unmanned aircraft in the National Airspace system in support of public safety missions, there currently are two programs the public agency can utilize:

• Under 14 CFR Part 107 as a civil operation. 
• As a public aircraft operator flying missions under an approved COA.

We can also issue two different types of COAs:

• Day and night operations of a UAS weighting less than 55 lbs. within Class G airspace, at or below 400 above the ground within visual line of sight of the aircraft within the CONUS of the United States.
• A Jurisdictional COA that is for any weight UAS within a specific operating area that may include controlled airspace (Class D, Surface Class E, Class C or Class B).

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A complete list of all Part 107 waivers granted is publicly available on the Section 352 Responses to the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act page. In our webinar The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly FAA experts share some examples of good and bad waiver applications.

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You can fly every mission as a civil operator under Part 107.  You can only fly some missions under your COA as a public aircraft. For daylight missions at a LAANC capable airport, Part 107 may be a better option for you. It's important to understand that if flying under Part 107, you must fully comply with Part 107 (which means a waiver to 107.29 to fly at night, for example). If flying under your COA, you must fully comply with your COA. You can't pick and choose parts of each that suit you. They are mutually exclusive legal frameworks.  The crew MUST clearly understand which rules they are flying under before they take off.

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The aircraft type does not matter; however, the weight of the aircraft matters since operations under Part 107 are limited to less than 55 lbs.

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If you meet the requirements of Part 107, you can operate in Class G airspace in accordance with Part 107 without any further authorization or waiver.

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ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) provides real-time precision and shared situational awareness to pilots and air traffic controllers. It's a foundational NextGen technology. U.S. aircraft must be equipped with ADB-B by January 1, 2020. ADS-B is a Part 91 regulation, and most small UAS or drones operate under Part 107. Some type of remote ID may be required in the future, but how the system would work and the requirements has not been finalized.

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