Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your FAA questions.
Please visit the FAA’s Key Officials page to view an organizational chart of all officials.
TRUST is an aeronautical knowledge and safety test developed by the FAA for recreational drone flyers. All recreational drone flyers flying under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft must take and pass TRUST at their earliest opportunity and carry proof of passage when flying.
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The Transportation Security Administration regulates what can and cannot be carried on board an airliner. You can find a list of permitted/prohibited items on their website.
Federal agencies are public agencies and as such operate under the same rules of those of a city, county, state or tribal agency.
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The following conditions are listed in the regulations as disqualifying medical conditions; however, in many cases when the condition is adequately controlled, the FAA will issue medical certification contingent on periodic reports.
- Angina pectoris
- Bipolar disease
- Cardiac valve replacement
- Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant
- Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications
- Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory explanation of cause
- Epilepsy
- Heart replacement
- Myocardial infarction
- Permanent cardiac pacemaker
- Personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts
- Psychosis
- Substance abuse
- Substance dependence
- Transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory explanation of cause.
Other conditions not specifically listed in the regulations are also disqualifying. For further information refer to the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners.
You can find information about disqualifying medical conditions on our website.
The following conditions are listed in the regulations as disqualifying medical conditions; however, in many cases when the condition is adequately controlled, the FAA will issue medical certification contingent on periodic reports.
- Angina pectoris
- Bipolar disease
- Cardiac valve replacement
- Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant
- Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications
- Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory explanation of cause
- Epilepsy
- Heart replacement
- Myocardial infarction
- Permanent cardiac pacemaker
- Personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts
- Psychosis
- Substance abuse
- Substance dependence
- Transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory explanation of cause.
Other conditions not specifically listed in the regulations are also disqualifying. For further information refer to the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners.
The medical standards for each class of medical certificate are set forth in 14 CFR Part 67.
If the UAS or drone you are operating weighs less than 55 pounds, you may apply for a Part 107 waiver to conduct your operation. If your operation involves a UAS or drone that weighs 55 pounds or more, you may apply for an exemption under the Special Authority for Certain Unmanned Systems (U.S.C. 44807).
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Generally, the FAA's first course of action is to educate operators when they are willing and able to comply. To date, there have been no local entities that are unwilling to come into compliance.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
The FAA does not have procedures for building a private-use facility, but you may follow the design standards for public-use airports as a general guideline. You can find these standards in Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5300-13, Airport Design or Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5390-2, Heliport Design. You can also find additional ACs that may be useful on our website.
You must notify us if you establish a new private use facility. Private-use facilities must comply with 14 CFR Part 157, Notice of Construction, Alteration, Activation, and Deactivation. Part 157 applies if you are proposing to construct, alter, activate, or deactivate a civil or joint use (civil/military) facility or alter the status or use of the facility. To notify the FAA, please use the Digital 7480-1 module found on the Airport Data and Information Portal website to submit the proposal. For help with using the Airport Data and Information Portal website, please use the Digital 7480-1 User Guide for assistance.
IMPORTANT: Even if you file a notice with the FAA, you must separately notify your state aviation agency and also comply with any local law, ordinance, or state and federal regulations.
Public education institutions that provide training on the use of unmanned aircraft must operate under 14 CFR Part 107. ALso, if the operating location or mission are not authorized under the 14 CFR part 107 rule, they must request a waiver or authorization from the FAA.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
You can find information about foreign medical certification and flying in the United States on our website.
Call your local law enforcement. Flying a drone in a reckless manner is a violation of Federal law and FAA regulations and could result in civil fines or criminal action.
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Operations conducted as a Public Aircraft COA (Part 91) are limited to those operations that meet the definition of a Governmental Function (see 49 USC 40125(a)2). If the community event does not meet this definition, the operation must be conducted under 14 CFR Part 107 and any necessary additional waiver or authorizations from the FAA depending on the operation and airspace.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
The FAA does not track non-FAA enforcement actions.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
The FAA requires you to update your program registration, LOA, or Operations Specification when the following information changes:
- Company name
- Certificate number
- Telephone number
- Address where your drug and alcohol testing program records are kept
- Type of safety-sensitive functions you or your employees perform
- Whether your safety-sensitive employee count changes from 50 or more to 49 or fewer)
To make changes to your Operations Specification, please contact your FAA Principal Operations Inspector (POI) or Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI). To make changes to your LOA, please contact the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) who issued your LOA and provide the updated information. To change the information on your program registration, please submit your amended registration form to the Drug Abatement Division at drugabatement@faa.gov.
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 the program.
Applicable Regulations:
The FAA plans to have test administrators begin offering the test in June of 2021.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
We realize that you may select more employees than necessary to prevent under-testing in the event that someone is excused. However, this practice may lead to a liberal excusal policy, which is not appropriate. Instead of using alternates, the best practice would be to recalculate the number of selections needed following each testing period to ensure that the minimum annual rate is met.
It is important for you to have a consistent policy in place that addresses this issue to ensure that each individual is treated fairly.
For more information regarding best practices for random testing, please visit the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Web site for a copy of the DOT publication "Best Practices for DOT Random Drug and Alcohol Testing".
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.
Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable regulations:
You need a medical certificate before flying solo in an airplane, helicopter, gyroplane, or airship. We suggest you get your medical certificate before beginning flight training. This will alert you to any condition that would prevent you from becoming a pilot before you pay for lessons.
If you are going to pilot a balloon or glider, you don't need a medical certificate. All you need to do is write a statement certifying that you have no medical defect that would make you unable to pilot a balloon or glider.
The remote pilot in command of the small UAS or drone is required to report an accident to the FAA within 10 days if it results in at least serious injury to any person or any loss of consciousness, or if it causes damage to any property (other than the UAS or drone) in excess of $500 to repair or replace the property (whichever is lower).
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.