Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your FAA questions.
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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Yes, in 2018 the Biographical Assessment was removed as a screening tool requiring all applicants to take the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA). All No Experience qualified candidates are required to take the ATSA as a pre-employment screening test.
Yes. In order to make the test accessible and available to the largest viable audience, the FAA is prioritizing its review of applicants based on (1) the applicant’s ability to begin offering the test on June 1, 2021, and (2) the applicant’s market reach. All applications submitted by March 31 will be reviewed by December 2021. The FAA may seek additional test administrators in 2022.
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Failure to register an unmanned aircraft that is required to be registered may result in regulatory and criminal penalties. The FAA may assess civil penalties up to $27,500. Criminal penalties include fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.
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The Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) does not contain the information needed to complete the online program; therefore, a copy of a COA is not beneficial in the application process. Visit our website for information on the filing of a Special Governmental Interest (SGI) Approval.
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There is currently not a standard for UAS or drones, other than that they must be visible for 3 statute miles.
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First responders and others organizations responding to natural disasters or other emergency situations may be eligible for expedited approval through our Special Governmental Interest (SGI) process.
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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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The FAA does not have an approved list of vendors.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Response by the Federal Air Surgeon
If you are ultimately certified then you are no longer on record with the FAA as having had your most recent application denied or your most recently held FAA airman medical certificate suspended or revoked, etc. Therefore, it is not necessary to maintain airman medical certification thereafter to exercise sport pilot privileges provided you hold a current and valid U.S. driver's license and provided you otherwise qualify.
No, you cannot instruct without the appropriate certificate(s) in your possession. Under 14 CFR 61.3, requirements for certificates, ratings, and authorizations, "A person may not act as pilot in command or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember... unless that person has a valid pilot certificate or special purpose pilot authorization... in that person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that pilot certificate or authorization."
You can find information about replacing an airmen certificate on our website.
No, you cannot instruct without the appropriate certificate(s) in your possession. Under 14 CFR 61.3, requirements for certificates, ratings, and authorizations, "A person may not act as pilot in command or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember... unless that person has a valid pilot certificate or special purpose pilot authorization... in that person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft when exercising the privileges of that pilot certificate or authorization."
You can find information about replacing an airmen certificate on our website.
The approval to operate under the COA, including the provision for night operations, is still restricted to an operation that meets the definition of a governmental function (Title 49 USC 40125(a)2) . If the unmanned aircraft is a component for the training mission, it can be flown under the COA.
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The test is valid. Refer to the Department of Transportation's Notice about CBD for more information.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA’s Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulations:
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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After you have passed the initial aeronautical knowledge test, you will then complete the FAA Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application (known as IACRA) to receive a remote pilot certificate. IACRA is a web-based certification/rating application that ensures you meet the requirements and electronically submits the application to the FAA's Airman Registry. Applications should be validated within 10 days. Applicants will then receive instructions for printing their temporary airman certificate, which is good for 120 days. The FAA will then mail you your permanent Remote Pilot Certificate within that 120 days.
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Waiver processing times will vary depending on the complexity of the request. We encourage applicants to submit waiver requests well in advance of when they need a waiver – 90 days is strongly encouraged. Applicants will be notified via email about the outcome of their waiver processing.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Response by the Federal Air Surgeon
You should consult your private physician to determine whether you have a medical deficiency that would interfere with the safe performance of sport piloting duties. You may exercise sport pilot privileges provided you are in good health, your medical condition is under control, you adhere to your physician's recommended treatment, and you feel satisfied that you are able to conduct safe flight operations.
Title VIII of Division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58) of 2021 (IIJA) provides $25 Billion for the National Aerospace System (NAS). Five billion dollars of the IIJA funds will be administered by FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) will fund much needed FAA facilities upgrades. FAA’s Office of Airports (ARP) will administer the remaining approximately $20 billion in grant funds for airport infrastructure, terminal development, including multimodal terminal development and on-airport rail access projects, and airport owned towers.