Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your FAA questions.
No. You must request an airspace authorization through LAANC or DroneZone to operate in controlled airspace. Airports are not allowed to provide this authorization.
No, you do not need a pilot certificate (license) to fly ultralight vehicles. However, ultralight vehicles are subject to FAA's rules in 14 CFR 103.
No, if the aircraft does not fly directly over a person, then the operation would be compliant with Part 107.39.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
No, it is simply a multiple choice exam administered by computer.
There are two ways for recreational or hobby UAS or drone fliers to operate in the National Airspace System in accordance with the law and/or FAA regulations.
Option #1: Fly in accordance with the limited statutory exception for recreation. Under this rule, operators must:
- Register your drone or UAS with the FAA
- Fly for hobby or recreational purposes only
- Follow a community-based set of safety guidelines
- Fly your drone within visual line-of-sight
- Give way to manned aircraft
- Obtain an airspace authorization to operate in controlled airspace.
- Fly a drone or UAS that weigh no more than 55 lbs. unless certified by a community-based organization
Option #2: Fly under the FAA's Small UAS Rule (14 CFR part 107). Under this rule, operators must:
- Register their drone or UAS with the FAA as a "non-modeler"
- Obtain an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate
- Follow the operational requirements of Part 107
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Yes, you must be a U.S. citizen to get an FAA license to operate as a direct air carrier, and to conduct any commercial passenger or cargo aircraft operations for compensation or hire. For more information, see Regulation 14 CFR Part 119.33.
Federal law requires all drones operated under 14 CFR Part 107 to be registered. The limited statutory exception for recreation requires registration of all aircraft weighing more than .55 pound (250 grams). All registered aircraft must have their registration number displayed on the exterior. Review the UAS registration information to learn more about the program.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
It is not necessary to provide MOUs as part of the COA application; however, it is appropriate to explain the need for a jurisdictional COA that appears to exceed the expected operating area a public safety agency is expected to respond to. One could make a case for needing approval well outside a normal operating environment; however, it must be noted that the larger the requested airspace, the longer it will take to accomplish the coordination for the approval of such a COA and it may be more efficient to just utilize the FAA’s Special Governmental Interest (SGI) approval process when responding to infrequent missions outside ones normal jurisdictional boundary or alternatively, you can fly under 14 CFR Part 107.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Each airline determines identification requirements for minors. Contact your airline well in advance of your travel date to determine if they have unique policies or procedures for minors.
Typically, minors under the age of 18 do not have to present identification for domestic U.S. travel. Airlines will accept identification from the responsible adult on behalf of the minor(s).
For international travel, minors under the age of 18 must present the same travel documents as the adult.
Please visit the Transportation Security Administration's website for more information.
Yes. All employees who conduct maintenance or preventive maintenance are required to be covered by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drug and alcohol testing program regardless of whether they sign off the work or not.
Employers who need more information about the definition of maintenance or preventive maintenance should review the FAA Flight Standards Service's Guidance Alert on Maintenance or consult directly with their FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector or local Flight Standards District Office. The Flight Standards Service is the expert in clarifying maintenance or preventive maintenance duties. Please visit the FAA's website to find the Flight Standards District Office closest to you.
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:
14 CFR part 43
14 CFR § 120.105
Yes. All employees who conduct maintenance or preventive maintenance are required to be covered by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drug and alcohol testing program regardless of whether they sign off the work or not.
Employers who need more information about the definition of maintenance or preventive maintenance should review the FAA Flight Standards Service's Guidance Alert on Maintenance or consult directly with their FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector or local Flight Standards District Office. The Flight Standards Service is the expert in clarifying maintenance or preventive maintenance duties. Please visit the FAA's website to find the Flight Standards District Office closest to you.
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:
14 CFR part 43
14 CFR § 120.105
If the payload operator is a required individual of the UAS or drone operation, then they may be considered a direct participant, but it depends on the type of operation being conducted.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
The conditions and provisions of the COA must be complied with, which includes the unmanned aircraft giving way to manned aviation. If there is a need to protect persons and property on the surface or in the air from a hazard associated with an incident on the surface, or provide a safe environment for the operation of disaster relief aircraft, or prevent an unsafe congestion of sightseeing and other aircraft above an incident or event which may generate a high degree of public interest, the incident management at the scene can request that the airspace be restricted.
Through our regional "UAS Working Group", geared primarily toward public safety, our subject matter experts have developed a concept we call the "Overlapping Jurisdictional COA", in which each of our local city and county public agencies are pursuing a Jurisdictional COA with a domain covering not only their own county, but also each of the contiguous, surrounding counties... Therefore, we are all able to adequately cover each of our neighbors, while also have them cover us. The justification for this is founded in existing public agency Memorandum of Understandings.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
No, Part 107 would not apply to operations conducted indoors. FAA rules and regulations apply to operations conducted outdoors in the National Airspace System (NAS).
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 is not aware of any school districts using drones for emergency situations, but this would certainly be a viable use of a UAS.
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 publish a list of acceptable transmission electronics.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
A public agency is allowed to operate under the COA as a public aircraft operator to conduct training exercises as a component/tool of the exercise. Training pilots on how to fly a UAS or using the UAS to memorialize events does not constitute a governmental function, and would not be authorized under the COA.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
An approved COA states that for operations where it is necessary to fly a drone over a human being, in order to safeguard human life, the remote pilot in command must not operate any lower or in proximity as necessary to accomplish the operation.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
No, unless preparing the aircraft for cleaning requires the removal of components or the protection of components, which may fall under the definition of maintenance or preventive maintenance under 14 CFR § 1.1 or Part 43. For example, before cleaning an aircraft, it may be necessary to close and secure the upper and lower fan cowl doors on a transport category aircraft. The FAA considers the closing and securing of the engine fan cowl doors maintenance.
Additionally, after the cleaning process, it may be necessary to reapply lubrication compounds and preservatives to aircraft components, both of which could be considered maintenance or preventive maintenance. If the aircraft is operated by a part 119 certificate holder authorized to conduct Part 121 or 135 operations, or is used to conduct sightseeing operations as defined in 14 CFR § 91.147, the individual performing the aircraft maintenance or preventive maintenance must be subject to drug and alcohol testing in accordance with 14 CFR Part 120.
Conversely, the FAA does not consider cleaning seat cushions/covers maintenance or preventive maintenance.
The FAA's Flight Standards Service are the experts in determining whether work is considered maintenance or preventive maintenance, in accordance with the definitions in 14 CFR § 1.1 and Part 43. If you have additional questions about these definitions, please contact your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) or your Principal Maintenance Inspector.
If you have any other questions or need additional guidance regarding the FAA's drug and alcohol testing requirements in 14 CFR Part 120, contact the Drug Abatement Division at 202-267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulations:
14 CFR § 1.1
14 CFR Part 43
14 CFR § 91.147
14 CFR § 120.1
14 CFR § 120.105(e)
14 CFR § 120.215(a)(5)
No. The DOT drug and alcohol testing regulation (49 CFR Part 40) applies to transportation employers who are regulated by federal agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA's regulation (14 CFR part 120) defines specific drug and alcohol testing requirements for the aviation industry. Therefore, an individual's participation in a DoD testing program, or that of any other Federal agency, would not satisfy the FAA's drug and alcohol testing requirements.
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 the program.