Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your FAA questions.
Response by the Federal Air Surgeon
Long-standing FAA regulation, § 61.53, prohibits all pilots — those who are required to hold airman medical certificates and those who are not--from exercising privileges during periods of medical deficiency. The FAA revised § 61.53 to include under this prohibition sport pilots who use a current and valid U.S. driver's license as medical qualification. The prohibition is also added under §§ 61.23 (c) (2) (iv) and 61.303 (b) (2) (4) for sport pilot operations.
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. Certain medical information that may be helpful for pilots can be found in our Pilot Safety Brochures.
Response by the Federal Air Surgeon
You may use your current and valid U.S. driver's license to exercise sport pilot privileges; however, you must hold the required, valid FAA airman medical certificate if you wish to exercise private pilot (or higher) privileges.
You will need to register your UAS or drone if it weighs more than 0.55 pounds.
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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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You should cancel your registration through the FAA's online registration system.
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It must be registered using the FAA's paper-based registration process.
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By passing a physical examination administered by a doctor who is an FAA-authorized Aviation Medical Examiner.
Call your local law enforcement. Law enforcement personnel will contact the FAA if the crash investigation requires FAA participation.
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There is no simple rule that determines whether pre-employment testing or other program requirements are required when changes occur to the ownership, company name, or structure of the operations. For example, if a new owner acquires a company and there is a break in operations or employment of safety-sensitive personnel, a negative pre-employment drug test may be required in accordance with 14 CFR § 120.109(a)(1). Alternatively, if the new owner maintains operations and the federal drug and alcohol testing program, a new pre-employment drug test would not be required.
If you need guidance, it is important that you contact the FAA’s Drug Abatement Division as soon as possible to ensure the acquisition or new ownership will comply with the federal drug and alcohol testing requirements outlined in 14 CFR part 120. To help FAA understand your situation, it is important that you send a written statement to drugabatement@faa.gov and provide the information in response to the questions below:
- Is there an FAA certificate involved and, if so, will the certificate number change?
- Is the change a result of a merger with another certificated or registered employer that has an existing FAA-mandated drug and alcohol testing program?
- Will there be an interruption of operations during the acquisition or change in ownership?
- Will your safety-sensitive employees remain employed and tested without interruption by the same testing program by the new owner and during the change in ownership?
- What will happen to your drug and alcohol testing records under the new owner, and will the location of where you maintain your records change?
- How will the changes affect your random testing pool or relationship with a service agent?
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
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Applicable Regulations:
If you have an issued waiver, and you want to change the equipment used under the waiver, you would need to apply for an amendment to the waiver. You may need to update the safety justification for the original waiver justification. The list of authorized pilots is maintained by the Responsible Person.
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Yes. In accordance with 14 CFR § 120.109(a)(1), an employer must conduct a pre-employment drug test and obtain a verified negative result prior to hiring any individual to perform safety-sensitive functions. When you merge with another employer that has an active FAA-mandated drug and alcohol testing program under a single operating certificate, you are hiring the employees and must comply with all requirements under 14 CFR part 120. This includes pre-employment drug testing and providing your new employee and supervisory training, informational materials, and education in accordance with 14 CFR § 120.115 and 120.223. These requirements apply when two employers merge under a single operating certificate or chooses to unify programs with another company it acquires that maintains its own operating certificate.
Please note that the FAA cannot make determinations about requests for relief from 49 CFR part 40. Although an employer is required to request drug and alcohol testing records and maintain confidentiality when hiring a new employee, the DOT has determined when a corporate entity is merging with another employer (which is defined under 49 CFR § 40.3), the employer encompasses a broader group and an exemption from 49 CFR § 40.25(a) is not required.
For companies that merge under a single operating certificate, it is possible for the employer to file a petition for exemption and seek relief from the requirements under 14 CFR part 120 (including the pre-employment drug testing and/or education and training) under the FAA’s exemption procedures outlined in 14 CFR part 11. The FAA has granted relief to employers that merged with other operators under a single operating certificate or program registration. All petitions must comply with 14 CFR part 11 and be submitted 120 days before you need the exemption to take effect. In accordance with 14 CFR § 11.81, a petition for exemption must include the following information, with as much detail as possible:
- Requesting employer’s name and mailing address. We encourage an employer to provide a fax number, telephone number, and/or e-mail address.
- The specific section or sections of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) from which an employer is seeking an exemption.
- The extent of relief and reason the employer seeking relief.
- The reasons why granting the request would be in the public interest; that is, how it would benefit the public as a whole.
- The reasons why granting the exemption would not adversely affect safety, or how the exemption would provide a level of safety at least equal to that provided by the rule.
- A summary FAA can publish in the Federal Register stating:
- The rule from which an employer is seeing the exemption; and
- A brief description of the nature of the exemption; and
- Any additional information, views or arguments available to support the request.
To review exemptions related to pre-employment drug testing, you may visit the FAA’s Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) and search for ‘120.109’. An employer may submit an exemption request electronically to the FAA on the Docket Management System website at http://www.regulations.gov. Instructions are available on the FAA’s webpage. For more information or assistance with FAA’s exemption procedures, please review the FAA’s Frequently Asked Questions or contact the FAA’s Office of Rulemaking directly at 202-267-9677.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
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Applicable Regulation(s):
Yes, because the testing is being performed to a standard required by the manufacturer or other standards acceptable to or approved by the Federal Aviation Administrator. The testing standard may be part of an inspection requirement in the technical data being used in the testing process.
Yes, because the testing is being performed to a standard required by the manufacturer or other standards acceptable to or approved by the Federal Aviation Administrator. The testing standard may be part of an inspection requirement in the technical data being used in the testing process.
No, they would not be considered part of the crew, as explained in the Advisory Circular 107-2.
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LASIK and other forms of vision corrective surgery have potentially adverse effects that could be incompatible with flying duties. These include:
- Corneal scarring or opacities;
- Worsening or variability of vision;
- Night-glare; and
- Haziness of vision.
The FAA expects that a pilot will not resume piloting aircraft until his or her own treating health care professional determines:
- The post operative condition has stabilized;
- There have been no significant adverse effects or complications; and
- The person meets the appropriate FAA vision standards.
If these determinations are favorable and if otherwise qualified, the pilot may immediately resume piloting but must ensure that:
- The treating health care professional documents his or her determinations in the pilot's health care treatment record;
- A copy of that record is immediately forwarded to the Aerospace Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City; and
- A personal copy is retained.
The airman may continue flight duties unless informed otherwise by the FAA or another disqualifying condition occurs.
Response by the Federal Air Surgeon
No. Special Issuance is not considered the denial of an FAA airman medical certificate.
Congress defined a "model aircraft" as a UAS that meets all of the following:
- Is capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere
- Is flown within visual line-of-sight of the person operating it
- Is flown for hobby or recreational purposes
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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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If operating as a public entity, operations will be performed in accordance with a COA (Certificate of Authorization). The COA will entail any communication requirements for the designated operation area.
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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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